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Now Under Phase 1 Construction • A public botanical garden in development and not yet open to the community. Join us soon. •

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OUR WEBSITE IS STILL GROWING. 🌿 UPDATES ARE BEING PLANTED. 🌿

GARDEN DEVELOPMENT

What’s Planned and Being Created

Construction Progress — What Is Currently Being Built

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The Roderick Gay Botanical Garden & Conservancy is more than a garden it is a transformational citywide investment in conservation, education, horticulture, history, and community. Led by the City Manager’s Office, the project brings together City departments, engineers, contractors, consultants, and community partners to transform the former Camp Truitt property into a premier botanical and environmental destination.

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A Collaborative City Effort

From planning and budgeting to infrastructure, utilities, public safety, and construction, City departments are working together to bring the Garden to life.

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The City Manager’s Office provides executive leadership and coordinates the work of departments including:

Finance & Accounting • Procurement • Information Technology • Public Works • College Park Power • Police • Fire • Building & Inspections • Engineering

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Robb Pitts Boulevard

​The Garden’s Main Gateway

This district serves as the primary arrival experience and introduces visitors to the Garden.


Features include:

  • Primary Entrance

  • GA Power Tower – Repurposed Signature Feature

  • Roundabout & Drop-Off

  • Robb Pitts Boulevard

  • Visitor Parking Lot

  • Herschel Road Entrance

  • Waterfall & Overlook Tower


A Grand Welcome

Visitors will enter the Garden through a formal landscaped gateway along Robb Pitts Boulevard. The planned entrance will feature a signature roundabout, fountain, decorative lighting, seasonal flowers, and welcoming gardens.
 

The historic Spring Road, now known as Robb Pitts Boulevard, honors Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts, whose leadership and advocacy were instrumental in securing the former Camp Truitt property for botanical garden development.

Conservatory Campus

Where History, Education & Garden Operations Meet

The Garden’s historic cabins will be adaptively reused to create a central campus supporting administration, education, visitor services, and horticultural operations.
 

Features include:

  • Conservatory Building

  • Administrative House & Offices

  • Welcome Center & Bookstore

  • Visitor Interactive Stop

  • Fulton County Master Garden

  • 4-H Cabin

  • Garden Steps


Preserving Camp Truitt

The Conservatory Campus will preserve the historic character of Camp Truitt while giving these buildings new purpose as part of the Garden’s future.
 

The campus will support the:

Roderick Gay Botanical Garden & Conservancy Headquarters • Visitor Information • Administrative Offices • Educational Programs • Volunteer Activities • Horticultural Operations

Upper Grounds

Gardens, Gathering Spaces & Elevated Views

The Upper Grounds will provide visitors with a mix of historic features, gardens, gathering spaces, and elevated viewpoints.
 

Features include:

  • 4-H Dining Hall

  • 4-H Administration Building

  • Stoner Chapel

  • Wedding Pavilion

  • Garden Overlook


The Stoner Chapel

The eastern valley of the Garden is envisioned as the future home of the Stoner Chapel, honoring Dr. Peter Stoner and his decades of commitment to establishing a botanical garden in South Fulton County.
 

A Freedom Rider during the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Stoner devoted more than 20 years and approximately $75,000 toward research, due diligence, and planning efforts supporting the botanical garden vision.
 

The chapel and surrounding landscape will provide a peaceful setting for reflection, learning, and environmental stewardship.

Garden Valley

The Heart of the Garden

Garden Valley will serve as one of the Garden’s most immersive and memorable landscapes, bringing together dramatic water features, gardens, gathering spaces, and event destinations.
 

Features include:

  • Amphitheater

  • Spring House

  • Concessions

  • Wedding Fountains

  • Picnic Pavilion

  • Public Restrooms

  • Creek Garden


The Nexus Waterfall

At the center of the Garden Valley will be the planned 109-foot Nexus Waterfall, envisioned as one of the tallest constructed waterfalls in the region. The waterfall will cascade through the valley and be surrounded by woodland gardens featuring native shade plants, ferns, and mature hardwood trees.
 

Wedding Pool Gardens

The former 4-H Olympic-size swimming pool will be adaptively reused as the Wedding Pool Gardens.
 

The conceptual design includes:

Reflecting Pool • Floating Fountains • Elevated Pedestrian Bridge • Formal Gardens • Event Space

A historic feature of Camp Truitt will become a distinctive destination for weddings, celebrations, and special events.
 

The Spring House

The historic Spring House will be preserved and reimagined as an educational feature. The property’s natural underground spring once supplied water to the campers’ whirlpool, showers, and Olympic-size swimming pool. The restored Spring House will interpret the history of the spring and the importance of water resources.

East Woodlands

Nature, Trails & Future Innovation

The East Woodlands will extend the Garden experience into the surrounding natural landscape.
 

Features include:

  • Woodland Trail

  • Global Gateway Pedestrian Entrance

  • ATL SkyTrain Botanical Garden Connector

  • Atlanta Airport – ConRAC / Consolidated Rental Car Facility


Black Oak Woodland Preserve

Approximately 10 acres of the Garden will remain preserved as a mature woodland ecosystem. The preserve includes mature black oak trees, some estimated to be nearly 100 years old, along with native ferns and understory vegetation. This protected woodland will serve as an important conservation area and living classroom, giving visitors opportunities to experience native ecosystems firsthand.

Ecotourism Gardens

Connecting People with Nature

The Ecotourism Gardens will showcase the Garden’s environmental, botanical, and educational mission.
 

Features include:

  • Garden Conservatory

  • Grove Lawn

  • Ecotourism Garden – 22.7 acres

  • Conference Center

  • Visitor Parking

  • New Connector Road

  • Bog Garden


Botanical Collections

The Garden will feature curated collections emphasizing Georgia’s native ecosystems, Southern horticultural traditions, and exceptional botanical diversity.
 

Planned collections include:

  • Native Georgia trees

  • Southern heritage shrubs

  • Woodland shade gardens

  • Fern collections

  • Pollinator gardens

  • Flowering trees

  • Seasonal perennial displays

  • Educational horticultural collections

  • Appropriate rare and endangered plant species


Historical seed and plant catalog records associated with the original Fulton County Botanical Garden initiative are preserved through the Atlanta History Center, helping inspire future collections.

Support Facilities

The Infrastructure Behind the Experience

While visitors experience the beauty of the Garden, a network of essential facilities will support its long-term operation.
 

Features include:

  • Overflow Parking

  • Shuttle Stop

  • Facilities Building

  • Commercial Greenhouses


Building the Foundation

The initial 38-acre development requires significant infrastructure investment. The City’s Engineering and Public Works teams are overseeing civil engineering, roads, grading, drainage, utilities, permitting, inspections, and construction coordination.
 

The Water & Sewer Division is installing:

Water Mains • Sewer Lines • Fire Hydrants • Stormwater Systems • Utility Infrastructure
 

College Park Power is coordinating:

Underground Electrical Infrastructure • Decorative Lighting • Transformers • Power Distribution

Together, these systems create the foundation necessary to operate the Garden and support its growth for generations.

A Garden Built for Generations

The Roderick Gay Botanical Garden & Conservancy is being created as more than a collection of gardens. It will be a place where conservation, education, horticulture, history, recreation, and community come together.

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Future programming is expected to include:

Seasonal Festivals • Educational Workshops • Weddings & Special Events • Horticultural Exhibitions • Family Activities • Community Events • Annual Holiday Drive-Through Light Festival

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As development progresses, the Garden will continue to take shape as a destination designed to educate, inspire, connect, and create lasting experiences.

ONE GARDEN. MANY EXPERIENCES. A LEGACY FOR GENERATIONS.

  • Proposed Restoration of Historic Stoner Chapel
    Preserving a treasured landmark while creating a beautiful venue for reflection, ceremonies, and community gatherings.
  • Proposed Visitor Center
    The future welcome center will serve as the primary gateway for guests, providing visitor information, exhibits, event support, and educational programming.
  • Garden Promenade
    A signature pedestrian promenade designed to connect visitors with gardens, gathering spaces, and scenic views throughout the property.
  • RGBG City of Atlanta Airport Garden Parking Lot_edited.png

  • RODERICK GAY BOTANICAL GARDEN
    LOST CREEK 

  • Proposed Interactive Visitor Experience
    An immersive educational space where visitors can explore the Garden's history, environmental impact, and future vision.
  • Proposed Restoration of Historic Stoner Chapel
    Preserving a treasured landmark while creating a beautiful venue for reflection, ceremonies, and community gatherings.
  • Proposed Visitor Center
    The future welcome center will serve as the primary gateway for guests, providing visitor information, exhibits, event support, and educational programming.
  • Garden Promenade
    A signature pedestrian promenade designed to connect visitors with gardens, gathering spaces, and scenic views throughout the property.
  • Proposed Interactive Visitor Experience
    An immersive educational space where visitors can explore the Garden's history, environmental impact, and future vision.
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