Summerhill could get indoor track facility tied to Atlanta’s Olympic past

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Atlanta Track Club is raising roughly $100 million to build a state-of-the-art indoor track facility in the Summerhill neighborhood, near the site where Olympians warmed up during the 1996 Summer Games.

The non-profit plans to fund the project through philanthropy, corporate partners and tax credits.

The proposed 175,000-square-foot facility would be built adjacent to Cheney Stadium and include a hydraulic oval, a healthcare clinic, a STEM center for students and community meeting space.

The facility would be capable of hosting high school, collegiate and Olympic-level events.

“We want to make sure that Summerhill remains in the conversation, front and center, as the legacy of the ‘96 Games continues,” Atlanta Track Club CEO Rick Kenah said.

Kenah, an Olympian who was involved in Cheney Stadium’s 2017 renovation, said the project is still in its early stages.

“We’re probably in the first 10k of a marathon if you will,” Kenah said.

Kenah told Atlanta News First a study showed the center would have “roughly a $70 to 80 million” economic impact on the city of Atlanta.

Cheney Stadium, the proposed facility and space for a parking lot all sit on property owned by Atlanta Public Schools (APS).

Under the proposal, APS would retain control of the property but provide no funding for the project.

Atlanta Track Club would raise the capital to invest back into the area.

APS is scheduled to take a board vote in August on the plan.

Caitlin Barringer, chair of NPU-V, said the neighborhood has been involved from the start.

“These are the very beginning discussions and they have committed to us that there will be ongoing community engagement,” she said. “What I really love is that ATC is committed to the legacy of the Olympics in Summerhill,” Barringer said.

Barringer said residents feel excitement alongside some uncertainty about the potential change.

She is hoping Summerhill residents stayed engaged and would like to see some sort of committee and get people involved with the ATC.

“We’ve had some beginning talks with ATC about free or reduced memberships costs for older adults and legacy residents in the area,” she said.

She is encouraging neighbors to stay involved during the community input window.

Kenah said he’s already gotten feedback from Summerhill residents about some areas of concern.

“Parking and traffic are two topics, sustainability in terms of the tree save, accessibility, who in the community is going to use it and when and then of course storm water runoff which has been a big issue,” he said.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist and Atlanta Track Club board member Gail Devers said the facility would serve Summerhill residents beyond those with Olympic aspirations, while also drawing out-of-state dollars.

“There’s so many athletes on the southeast region that are going to be looking for places to train, looking for quality meets because they’ve got to qualify for the Olympic Games and if we have, now if we going to build a facility it’s going to be the best of the best,” she said. “It’s not gold medalish, it’s platinum medalish okay. That’s what we’re doing.”

Devers, who won two gold medals in Atlanta, said, “Summerhill is my home; I don’t live there but I feel like they’re my home.”

Kenah said he anticipates the facility could open within three years.

“We’re trying to make this for real running city USA,” Devers said.