Atlanta Parks

[PhunkyPho]

[/QUOTE]

Personally, I would like to see something more like this for the connector cap park (I can't remember the official name). The plans for that park just don't do much for me. I think something more "natural" would look much more sophisticated and age much better. Granted, it would be years before the trees matured, but I think it's a better direction to go.

[alco89]

Originally Posted by PhunkyPho

Personally, I would like to see something more like this for the connector cap park (I can't remember the official name). The plans for that park just don't do much for me. I think something more "natural" would look much more sophisticated and age much better. Granted, it would be years before the trees matured, but I think it's a better direction to go.

That would be nice, but densely packed mature trees and the amount of earth it would require would probably be a disaster to engineer on what would essentially be a series of bridges. Way too heavy.

[PhunkyPho]

Originally Posted by alco89

That would be nice, but densely packed mature trees and the amount of earth it would require would probably be a disaster to engineer on what would essentially be a series of bridges. Way too heavy.

Very valid point. I hadn't even thought of that.

[Julien]

While not technically a park I was a little fascinated by this pic I took yesterday (4/18) in Sweet Aubrun and wanted to share. All female/Black and most (or all) on Harleys.

[smArTaLlone]

Originally Posted by alco89

That would be nice, but densely packed mature trees and the amount of earth it would require would probably be a disaster to engineer on what would essentially be a series of bridges. Way too heavy.

Maybe not densely packed trees but some of the inspirations for the cap do have a good amount of trees.

Seattle's Freeway Park may be the most tree heavy.





The Midtown Connector Project have released 2nd video on the project.

• Video Link

[montydawg]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

Maybe not densely packed trees but some of the inspirations for the cap do have a good amount of trees.

Seattle's Freeway Park may be the most tree heavy.

I think in the grand scheme of things, dirt is going to be more heavy than the trees, and it is not difficult to engineer a cement bridge to be able to hold trees. A large oak tree weighs around 20,000 pounds, however, a city bus weighs around 20,000 - 30,000 pounds.

[Martinman]

I've been pretty skeptical of this Midtown cap project but they seem to be putting in some serious planning for it. Of course I'm rooting for it to become reality.

[shivtim]

For any of the three proposed caps, trees shouldn't be an issue. Smartalone gave the Seattle example. Another that immediately came to mind is Duluth, Minnesota.

[alco89]

I stand corrected on the dense tree/earth issue. Could've sworn I'd heard otherwise before

[bryantm3]

I think you have me to blame- I had mentioned it not being possible here and on reddit. Someone on this forum a few years ago had told me the reason the 5th Street bridge had short shrubs in terraced planters was because it wasn't possible to put trees over a cap. If it's possible to expand the tree canopy over the connector, that would really be wonderful. I apologize for passing on bad info.

[shivtim]

I'm not an engineer either - but makes sense it would take more money to build a structure capable of supporting more weight. Based on a quick google search, a tractor trailer (semi) weighs more than a mature hardwood tree. Soil weighs about 75 pounds per cubic foot. So standard freeway bridge design that can accommodate big trucks should be able to accommodate trees. I imagine root growth could be a major concern though.

Another example - Millennium Park in Chicago is essentially a big cap over railroad tracks. There are some areas with a lot of large trees.

[NYbyWAYofGA]

Originally Posted by shivtim

I'm not an engineer either - but makes sense it would take more money to build a structure capable of supporting more weight. Based on a quick google search, a tractor trailer (semi) ways more than a mature hardwood tree. Soil weighs about 75 pounds per cubic foot. So standard freeway bridge design that can accommodate big trucks should be able to accommodate trees. I imagine root growth could be a major concern though.

Another example - Millennium Park in Chicago is essentially a big cap over railroad tracks. There are some areas with a lot of large trees.

Another thing is that trees are stationary, but vehicles move. So, the weight gets distributed differently...I assume.

[montydawg]

Originally Posted by NYbyWAYofGA

Another thing is that trees are stationary, but vehicles move. So, the weight gets distributed differently...I assume.

Trees move in the wind. Those forces have to be accounted for in the engineering of such a structure. I believe there is a technique with trees in limiting the root structure of a tree so that it does not grow too big.

I lived in Philadelphia for a while. They have 2 small parks over highway 95 and they want to cap a larger portion. I believe these caps were built in the 70s or 80s when the original highway was built.

[NYbyWAYofGA]

Originally Posted by montydawg

Trees move in the wind. Those forces have to be accounted for in the engineering of such a structure. I believe there is a technique with trees in limiting the root structure of a tree so that it does not grow too big.

I lived in Philadelphia for a while. They have 2 small parks over highway 95 and they want to cap a larger portion. I believe these caps were built in the 70s or 80s when the original highway was built.

Wow, this is so cool. I am always finding interesting new things about Philly. Thanks for this!

[PhunkyPho]

I didn't expect to spark so much conversation about trees over highways. I am curious now, do the majority of you feel the plans for the cap park won't age well? Or, do you love it?

[cabasse]

as long as they don't punch holes in it like the one in buckhead i think it will be great, they can always change things around on top (within reason) after it's been built.

[NYbyWAYofGA]

Originally Posted by PhunkyPho

I didn't expect to spark so much conversation about trees over highways. I am curious now, do the majority of you feel the plans for the cap park won't age well? Or, do you love it?

I think it will be fantastic. Look at 5th Street bridge, for instance.

[smArTaLlone]

Urbanize Atlanta has photos of Rodney Cook Sr. Park which is scheduled to open in June.

https://urbanize.city/atlanta/post/new-park-dowtown-vine-city-john-lewis-rodney-cook-sr

[trainiac]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

Urbanize Atlanta has photos of Rodney Cook Sr. Park which is scheduled to open in June.

Thank goodness. I took the Westside Beltline Connector over there last week expecting it to be open and it was still fenced. I'm baffled at what takes so long to open parks. Is it an insurance thing or something? It's looked finished for months.

Westside (quarry) Park had the gates open until last week and now it's chained. You can still sneak around the fence, but I hate doing that. They're still doing work by the pump house, but everything else looks finished to me. There have been tons of people checking it out on weekends since February or so.

[smArTaLlone]

Upgrades to Arts District Plaza are officially kicking off at Peachtree and 15th Streets! Updates include new seating and hardscape improvements.