James_March-April_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 43
hen you cross the river into Cobb County
on U.S. 41/Cobb Parkway from Atlanta,
the park is the first thing you see. The
tree line, the water, and the calm along the Chattahoochee are impossible to miss. It’s Paces Mill, part of
the National Park Service’s Chattahoochee River National
Recreation Area. People may not recognize its name, but this
front door to Cobb sets expectations for how we host, hire, and
grow in one of the country’s most dynamic regions.
New Day Palisades is a multi-phase effort to renew Paces Mill
with lasting, welcoming amenities. Located in Cobb County, I knew
I wanted the Atlanta Braves involved. We build destinations that
perform on game days and every day, and great public spaces make
that possible. This riverfront is our front door. Personally, I wanted to be part of the project to renew Paces Mill because I know
firsthand how this natural resource changes conversations with
recruits, partners, and friends; even just five minutes on that riverbank tells people this is a community worth betting on.
The Cumberland Community Improvement District (CID) and
non-profit One Cumberland took charge to plan and lead New Day
Palisades, a generational effort to rehabilitate Paces Mill for the first
time since it was created in 1978. Last summer’s completion of Phase
One made clear why investing in New Day Palisades is a grand slam.
The place feels intentional and relaxed, with boardwalks and gentle
paths that invite you to slow down. Native plantings and a restored
prairie meadow represent Cobb’s natural backyard, unlike an artificially landscaped roadside. Smart stormwater work protects the river
to maintain and withstand years of its natural aging process. Accessibility is woven in so kids, grandparents, and school groups can
enjoy it together. It isn’t flashy, it’s simply well made.
If Phase One laid the foundation, Phase Two brings the heart.
Phase Two, set to begin in fall 2027, turns a strong welcome into a
memorable one. The One Cumberland and Cumberland CID teams
are planning a visitor information center that helps you plan a day
in the park, modern restrooms and changing areas that remove
guesswork, an open-air pavilion that can host classes
and community moment and overlooks and gathering
spots will frame the river.
Business leaders should care because talent and
customers choose place first. Parks and polished public realms raise acceptance rates, keep teams rooted, and
boost spending. A great front door gives a real “show, don’t tell”
moment for candidates and investors who want to set up shop or
expand here in metro Atlanta.
New Day Palisades also shows how this community gets things
done—public, private, and philanthropic partners each playing
their role, so the result has a lasting impact. Phase One delivered
visible progress. Now we’re rallying for support to finish Phase Two
and lock in the amenities that make a great first impression that is
impossible to miss.
Think of what we’re building: a national park next to a national ballpark, world-class nature and world-class entertainment living side by side, each making the other better. Families will come
“park” by the river and stay for dinner. Potential employer recruits
will walk the boardwalk and start picturing life here. Guests will
leave saying, “I didn’t expect that,” and they’ll mean it as the highest compliment.
If this resonates, I’m asking you to do one of two things. If
you’re ready to invest in Cobb County, help us finish Phase Two—
add your business’s name to something positive for every member
of this community. You can give through One Cumberland or contribute in-kind with volunteer efforts that move quickly from pledge
to place. And if giving isn’t in the cards today, come see it for yourself. Bring your family on the weekend or your team at lunch, spend
an hour at Paces Mill, and let the park make the case.
I’m in, and the Atlanta Braves are in. Let’s finish the New Day
Palisades project and deliver the front door this community and
metro Atlanta deserves—one you’ll be proud to come back and
visit for years to come.
For more information go to newdaypalisades.org
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