‘Our Front Door’

How Cumberland CID’s New Day Palisades is transforming what people see when they see Cobb County.

By Michael J. Pallerino

When Larry Wayne “Chipper” Jones talks about Atlanta, people listen. This past July, during Fox Sports’ pregame All-Star festivities, the Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Famer was discussing all things baseball when his words shifted to Braves Nation. In what was an impromptu love letter to the community around Truist Park, Jones called out The Battery Atlanta, the Cobb Galleria Centre, and the broader Cumberland area as examples of how the Braves’ move transformed more than just the team’s home field.

In his brief, but powerful soliloquy, Jones, who spent his entire 19-year career as a Brave, captured the unique blend of sports, entertainment, dining, and walkable vibrancy that now defines the district. With the world watching, he painted the perfect picture of a destination where you don’t even need a game ticket to have a great time. His words served as an unexpected, but perfectly timed bit of national PR, spotlighting the area as one of Atlanta’s premier gathering places.

Somewhere, Kim Menefee was smiling. As the Executive Director of the Cumberland Community Improvement District (CID) and not-for-profit One Cumberland, which encompasses Truist Park, she oversees one of its most ambitious projects yet: the multi-phase New Day Palisades initiative. The revitalization of the Paces Mill Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) includes a 22-acre “local national park” that sits within the CID’s boundaries and draws more than 270,000 visitors a year.

It is, as Menefee put it, “Our front door when you cross from Fulton County into Cobb County” — a natural gateway that reflects the district’s character and values. “When you cross the Chattahoochee River into Cobb County, you’re greeted by this incredible sweep of green, the water glinting in the sunlight, and the skyline just beyond. It’s a reminder that Cumberland is a place where nature and city meet in the most remarkable way.”

Formed in 1988, the Cumberland CID was the first community improvement district in Georgia. Funded by commercial property owners, it has spent more than three decades investing in infrastructure, mobility, greenspace, and economic vitality across its 6.5-square-mile district. The CID’s work has helped transform Cumberland into a thriving urban center, home to more than 31,000 residents, 88,000 jobs, and millions of annual visitors. The CID launched One Cumberland in 2022, a nonprofit organization on a mission to protect and conserve the natural resources of Cumberland and establish the District as a vibrant, diverse community through the enrichment of cultural amenities, quality of life, improved access, and environmental stewardship.

From major roadway upgrades to trail expansions, the CID projects often blend practicality with placemaking — improving safety and accessibility while enhancing the community’s appeal. Partnering with the National Park Service (NPS) on New Day Palisades is an extension of that tradition, pairing local investment with federal stewardship to protect and reimagine a rare, natural resource in the heart of metro Atlanta.

“We’re the only CID in Metro Atlanta that has national parkland inside its boundaries,” Menefee said. “We feel very fortunate to partner with the National Park Service to rehabilitate Paces Mill. This park really is our front door, and it’s one of the most valuable natural resources we have. We see it as the lifeblood of our community, and it’s something we want to protect for generations to come.”

Phase One: Building the Foundation
Completed in June 2025, Phase One of New Day Palisades represents a $6.3-million investment — funded by $4.3 million from the CID and $2 million in congressional appropriations secured by Georgia’s federal delegation. It marks the first major improvements to Paces Mill since it became part of the CRNRA in 1978.

The upgrades address safety, accessibility, and environmental sustainability. A redesigned parking hub and bus-drop loop now separate pedestrian and vehicle traffic, easing congestion and improving circulation. Bioswales — landscape features that filter and absorb stormwater — were added to reduce flooding and improve river water quality. Precision grading stabilizes soils, while rebuilt boardwalks and gently sloped trails make it easier for visitors of all abilities to reach the river’s edge.

One of the most visible changes is the introduction of a prairie meadow planted with native species — a rarity in the United States. Beyond its beauty, the meadow supports pollinators and serves as a living classroom for school groups. “Phase One allowed us to go in and make improvements the park hadn’t seen since it was designated a national park,” Menefee said. “We completely reworked the parking, improved circulation, and added bioswales to help manage stormwater. And with the prairie meadow, we’ve created something that blends conservation and education in a really unique way.”

The result is a park that feels more welcoming, functional, and environmentally resilient — a foundation for the enhancements still to come.

The ribbon cutting for Phase One united hundreds of residents, business leaders, elected officials, and park enthusiasts. For many, the event symbolized the power of partnerships. When the CID launched the New Day Palisades project, it envisioned more than just fresh pavement; it imagined a front porch on the Chattahoochee in a national park that belongs to everyone.

The reopening of Paces Mill serves as an example for how smart investments in public land improve community health, strengthen the economy, and preserve Georgia’s natural treasures. Menefee said that spirit of collaboration will be essential for the next phase — especially with a new funding approach.

Phase Two: Elevating the Experience
If Phase One built the model for a modern, sustainable park, Phase Two will add the heart. Estimated at $9.5 million, the second phase will deliver a new Visitor Information Center with modern restrooms and changing facilities, an open-air pavilion for environmental education and community events, expanded river access with broad steps and overlooks, and trail enhancements linking to the Bob Callan Trail. That trail now connects Paces Mill to Terrell Mill Road.

“Whether you live here, work here, or visit, you can feel proud of what’s being built and protected,” Menefee said. “Cumberland has truly become an urban destination, and projects like this ensure the quality of life keeps pace with that growth.”

To help fund Phase Two, the CID — through its nonprofit arm, One Cumberland — has launched a $5-million capital campaign. “For the first time, philanthropy will play a major role in a CID project,” Menefee said. “We’ve delivered Phase One. We need the community’s help to finish what we started.”

The project is set to break ground in fall 2026 and open to the public in spring 2027. The completion date will coincide with the CRNRA’s 50th anniversary.

More Than a Park
For all the specifics about parking loops and bioswales, New Day Palisades’ legacy will be in its identity. An ecological treasure, the Chattahoochee River also is an essential part of the region’s cultural and recreational fabric. By reimagining Paces Mill, the CID and its partners are shaping the first impression visitors get when they cross into Cobb County — and preserving a space where nature, history, and community converge.

Through careful planning, the CID is ensuring Paces Mill remains a cherished destination for outdoor recreation while strengthening its community’s identity with improved accessibility, cultural enrichment, and environmental stewardship. It is an ethos that has guided the CID since its founding — recognizing that infrastructure isn’t just about moving cars, but about connecting people to opportunities, experiences, and each other.

As construction continues to shape Cumberland’s skyline, projects like New Day Palisades ensure the district’s growth is balanced by a commitment to quality of life. The CID’s leadership knows that a thriving commercial and residential hub benefits from equally vibrant public spaces. “This park is more than just an amenity — it’s part of the identity of the Cumberland community,” Menefee said. “It’s everybody’s park — the lifeblood of our community.”

While Chipper Jones may not have had cue cards set to highlight Paces Mill when he spoke about the Cumberland area on national television, his words captured its essence: a place where sports, culture, nature, and community all thrive side by side. With Phase One complete and Phase Two on the horizon, that blend is only getting richer — inviting locals and visitors alike to step outside, explore, and make their own memories along the Chattahoochee.

From Riverbank to Ribbon Cutting
The two-phase, $15.8-million Paces Mill transformation by the Cumberland Community Improvement District and One Cumberland is reimagining the area as the welcoming “front porch” to Cobb County — blending access, sustainability, and community pride along the Chattahoochee. Here’s a snapshot of what’s going on:

Phase One – Completed June 2025

• Investment: $6.3 million (Cumberland CID + congressional appropriations)
• Parking redesign: Safer, more efficient layout with improved circulation and a new bus-drop loop.
• Stormwater management: Bioswales and precision grading to reduce flooding, stabilize soils, and improve Chattahoochee water quality.
• Accessibility: Rebuilt boardwalks and gently graded trails for all abilities to reach the river’s edge.
• Prairie meadow: Native species planted to support pollinators and serve as an educational resource for school groups.

Phase Two – Planned 2026–2027

• Investment: $9.5 million (includes $5 million capital campaign through One Cumberland).
• Visitor Information Center: Fully ADA-accessible, with modern restrooms and changing facilities.
• Open-air pavilion: Space for environmental education programs and community events.
• Expanded river access: Broad steps under the U.S. 41 bridge, overlooks, and new picnic areas.
• Trail enhancements: Connections to the Bob Callan Trail, linking Paces Mill to Terrell Mill Road.
• Timeline: Construction is planned for fall 2026; completion in spring 2027 to coincide with CRNRA’s 50th anniversary.