Vision Plan
We are pleased to share the vision plan for Falling Water Park below, based on community feedback. It is important to note that there is currently no funding for any of the projects shown in the plans. This is normal. The visioning process is the first step in establishing community needs and is crucial to planning future funding available through a multiple resources, including both public and private.
The vision plan is based on community feedback collected through surveys and two public meetings held on Feb 16 and Apr 13, as well as restrictions put on the site when it was acquired in 2004 by the City of Atlanta with money from the State of Georgia and the Georgia Community Greenspace Program. Because of the funding, the park can only be developed in ways that are compatible with its natural features, like the forest, creek, and wetlands.
To see the full results from the community surveys, click the buttons below.
Guiding Principles
The vision plan revolves around these four guiding principles that serve as the main goals for the park design. The fourth guiding principle includes some additions based on suggestions from the community.
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Protect and enhance the forest, stream, and wetland ecosystems by facilitating environmental stewardship and educational opportunities.
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Apply principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) to promote a safe clean space with clearly defined areas of use and delineated boundaries.
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Provide a tranquil space for community members to improve mental and physical health near their homes.
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Partner with nearby schools, churches, businesses, environmental organizations, sororities, fraternities, and other organizations to establish a community-based volunteer network to promote positive use and closer personal connections to the park for residents.
Click the image below to download a PDF version of the vision plan.
NOTE: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the files, which is free for download here:
The files are large, so we recommend you view them on a computer or tablet rather than your phone.
Vision Plan
The vision plan includes the following features:
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Paved and unpaved trails throughout the woodland
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Fitness circuit with exercise stations
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A restored dam, stabilizing water levels in the lake
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Parking area with lighting, signage, rules, and security cameras.
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Community garden in the electrical easement
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Gathering/seating areas in woodland
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Boardwalk over lake with railing designed for fishing and wildlife observation
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Boardwalk over wetlands alongside creek
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Nature play and picnic area
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Overlook and bird observation areas
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Creek access area
Priorities
The final survey results can be viewed by clicking the button below.
Past Meetings
Big Ideas Meeting Thursday, Feb 16
You can watch a recording of the meeting in the video linked below and read answers to the questions asked in the chat by clicking the green button.
Preliminary Plan Presentation -
Thursday April 13
At this meeting, we shared the results from the community survey and viewed draft design concepts for the future of Falling Water Park. To download a copy of the PowerPoint presentation, click the green button below.
Vision Plan Presentation -
Saturday, May 20
At this meeting we shared the final vision plan for Falling Water Park based on community feedback.
Why Park Visioning?
Parks are good for people, good for the environment, and good for communities! Parks are treasured neighborhood amenities where children can learn about nature, friendships start, and memories are formed. Parks are all about community, and that's why community leadership and involvement is so important when designing parks.
Park Visioning is a program of Park Pride, a nonprofit organization working with communities in Atlanta. Park Pride puts community at the center of the conversation and helps build a shared vision for a park based on the ideas and concerns of the whole community.
Through neighborhood meetings, surveys, and engagement, Park Pride's professional park designers will be working closely with communities surrounding Falling Water Park to produce a plan that will help guide future investments in this long-awaited park space.
What is a Vision Plan?
The vision plan created for Falling Water Park will be a conceptual plan and comprehensive report, produced to professional landscape design standards. The plan will be informed by community input and balanced with accepted best practices, laws, and regulations to arrive at a realistic plan for long-term improvement. The visioning effort is led by a steering committee of community residents who meet with Park Pride monthly throughout the process.
It is important to note that there is currently no funding for any of the projects identified through this process, and the vision plan has no weight of law unless it is adopted by City Council.
You can learn more about park visioning and view examples of past vision plans on Park Pride's website by clicking the button below.
Where is Falling Water Park?
The park is located between D. M. Therrell High School and the Cascade Parc neighborhood on the north side of Panther Trail in the Southwest Neighborhood of Atlanta.
The site is easy to miss because no investments have been made to officially open the property for public access. The vision plan will preserve the important natural features of the site (forest, stream, and wetlands), while also making it safe for public use and enjoyment.
Click on the map to see where it is!
Falling Water Park property
Making up a total of 26 acres, the property is mostly forested and includes two utility easements: one for Georgia Power transmission lines and one for Atlanta Gas Light.
The property is bordered by private residential properties on its east, north, and west sides.
You can download a copy of the map by clicking the image below.
Park Acquisition
Falling Water Park was purchased in June of 2004 by the City of Atlanta as park land with money from the State of Georgia and the Georgia Community Greenspace Program.
At the time, City Councilmember Jim Maddox said in a press release that the project would "assist in decreasing the deficit of park land in an area of the city that is currently underserved."
The name "Falling Water Park" comes from the name of the company who owned the land prior to city acquisition. Although there are two ponds and a creek, there are no waterfalls in the park.
Site Photos
The park site is not currently open for public use, but that doesn't mean it's empty! In fact, it is full of life and interest.
There are two ponds, a beautiful forest, several species of native plants, lots of wildlife, and small streams flowing through the park. The streams are part of the Utoy Creek watershed, which drains into the Chattahoochee River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.
All photos on this website were taken by Park Pride staff on the property in October 2022.
Unfortunately, the site also has been impacted by illegal dumping in places. Opening the site to the public should help curtail harmful activities like dumping.
