Transcript:
In Atlanta, an overgrown and neglected railroad corridor is becoming a shady walking and biking path.
When complete, the Atlanta Beltline will form a 22-mile loop around the city, linking parks, affordable housing, art, businesses, and public transit.
And hundreds of different types of plants and trees will surround the path – forming the world’s longest linear arboretum.
Levine: “And it’s a way that people can get through 45 neighborhoods, either by bike or by foot, that is going to be completely shaded.”
Greg Levine is executive director of the nonprofit Trees Atlanta, which manages the arboretum.
He says the design incorporates both old-growth trees and new tree plantings.
As climate change causes more extreme weather, these trees will help keep the city cool on hot days. And they’ll filter stormwater when it rains.
They’ll also create habitat for wildlife.
Levine: “In the evenings, you can hear insects. … If you get there early in the morning, there’s birds flying all around.”
More than half of the arboretum has already been built.
And signs, artwork, and docent-led tours on the path teach people about the trees and the ecosystem as they enjoy the winding oasis of greenery.
Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media
