Celebrating Westside Park: A Landmark for Sustainability and Community
Atlanta’s largest park, Westside Park, has been renamed in honor of former Mayor Shirley Franklin—a fitting tribute to a leader whose visionary approach to sustainability continues to shape the city. Opened in 2021, this 280-acre green space serves as a critical asset for Atlanta, both as a recreational haven and as a cornerstone of the city’s water infrastructure. The park will now be known as Shirley Clarke Franklin Park.
One of the park’s most groundbreaking features is its 35-acre reservoir, which increased Atlanta’s drinking water reserve from a mere three days to over 30 days, ensuring a reliable supply during emergencies. The reservoir’s creation relied on “Driller Mike,” a $11.6 million, 400-foot tunnel-boring machine that carved a five-mile tunnel deep beneath the streets of Atlanta. This engineering marvel connects the Chattahoochee River to the park’s pump station and extends to the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant, making the Westside Park reservoir a vital piece of Atlanta’s water system.
Beyond its utility, Westside Park offers the community a state-of-the-art recreational space with scenic walking paths, dedicated bike lanes, and direct access to the Beltline’s Westside Trail, seamlessly connecting it to other parts of the city.
CERM’s Role in Building a Landmark
CERM is proud to have been a key partner in bringing this transformative project to life. As part of a joint venture, our team provided critical program and construction management services to ensure the park met its ambitious goals. Our contributions also included:
- Program and Construction Management: Delivering oversight and coordination to successfully implement this large-scale project.
- Surveying: Providing accurate measurements and data to support the design-build process.
- Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs): Assessing the historical use and current site conditions to determine potential impacts
- Geotechnical Evaluations: Determining soil stability including assessments of Gate 2’s entryway, which supports the park’s iconic “Rib Cage” structure.
A Living Classroom for Future Generations
CERM is not only committed to building transformative infrastructure but also to inspiring the next generation of leaders in engineering and environmental services. In 2019, students from CERM’s Job Shadow Program toured the Westside Park construction site to witness the incredible scale of the project and learn about the technical expertise required to bring it to life. After Phase 1 was completed, students visited in 2021 to see the park in its final form, reinforcing their understanding of how innovative engineering can positively impact communities.
A Tribute to Leadership and Sustainability
Renaming Westside Park in honor of Shirley Franklin recognizes her enduring legacy and commitment to sustainability. As Atlanta celebrates this achievement, we are reminded of the power of public-private partnerships in creating spaces that serve both practical needs and enrich the lives of residents.
CERM is proud to have been part of this journey, and we look forward to continuing to build projects that leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
