OLPA's Past Projects

To implement the Master Plan, the OLPA board decided to pursue fundraising and restoration in manageable stages. It completed its first major effort in 2001, successfully raising $1.7 million to rehabilitate the Oak Grove segment and to improve curbing and drainage in four other sections.

In a second campaign, OLPA exceeded its $2.5 million goal for the restoration of Dellwood, Shadyside and Virgilee. State, city and county officials joined board members and other supporters in celebrating the achievement at a ceremony in October 2003.

Restoration of the four segments involved
o Burial of utility lines
o Planting of 2,600 trees and shrubs according to a 1902 Olmsted plan
o Installation of 6,000 linear feet of asphalt paths
o Addition of historically appropriate light fixtures and benches
o A signage program identifying park segments and providing historical background
o A maintenance fund for ongoing care.

Concern for the environment has been an integral part of the planning process. Using the original Olmsted palette, the landscape architects have chosen plants and trees that are either native or proven hardy in the Atlanta area. Extensive mulching is practiced to lower fertilizer and herbicide usage. As the new trees grow to replace the declining older tree canopy, they improve air quality along busy Ponce de Leon Avenue.

The Alliance thanks the individuals, civic groups, corporations, foundations and government agencies that contributed to the first two phases of the Linear Park restoration.