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Abstract
Using three parks along the Atlanta Beltline as case studies, I argue for the central role of community involvement and the importance of history in designing equitable park spaces. Through an examination of the BeltLine’s current community input process and by looking at three parks (Historic Fourth Ward Park, DH Stanton Park, and Enota Park), I explore the changes in the surrounding communities as those parks were built. I apply the lessons learned on those three projects to suggest a more equitable process for another park along the BeltLine in a neighborhood that has been historically disinvested and is at a high risk for gentrification and displacement. Through this exploration, I find that while the BeltLine offers opportunity for equitable development, it can only happen with a strong emphasis on community design and reckoning with the unique racial history of Atlanta.