Summerhill could be about to get something no other neighborhood in Georgia has: a state-of-the-art indoor track and field facility. Atlanta Track Club and Atlanta Public Schools have teamed up to pitch a project called the Cheney Olympic Legacy Complex, which would be the first indoor facility in the state dedicated entirely to track and field. This is a proposal, not yet an approved project, but it is a full-scale training and competition venue designed to honor Atlanta's Olympic legacy while giving athletes year-round access to elite-level training space.
The facility would fill a major gap. Right now, Georgia has no dedicated indoor track and field competition facility, which means athletes training for indoor national championships or trying to compete during winter months either travel out of state or settle for makeshift training setups. Atlanta actually hosted the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Georgia Dome six times between 1995 and 2001. When the Dome was demolished in 2017, that hosting capacity went with it. The Cheney Olympic Legacy Complex aims to change that by bringing Olympic-caliber infrastructure to a neighborhood that's already becoming one of Atlanta's most dynamic areas. The 16.5-acre site is owned by Atlanta Public Schools and sits next to Phoenix II Park, just east of Georgia Avenue's transformed commercial blocks. The existing outdoor track at Cheney Stadium would remain in place.
What Makes This Different From Outdoor Tracks
Indoor track facilities aren't just outdoor tracks with a roof. They're built for year-round training regardless of weather, which matters more than people realize. Rain, heat, and humidity can shut down outdoor training for days at a time in Atlanta. An indoor facility means consistent training conditions, which is critical for athletes preparing for competitions that don't wait for good weather.
The complex would include a regulation indoor track, field event areas, and spaces designed to host major competitions. For context, the University of Georgia just opened a $59.8 million outdoor track complex in Athens in February, but that's still an outdoor facility. UGA's new complex does include a 100-meter five-lane warmup track under the grandstand, but that is not a competition facility. This would be Georgia's first dedicated indoor competition option, period.
Why Summerhill Makes Sense
Summerhill has been on a transformation arc for years now. The neighborhood went from overlooked to impossible-to-ignore, thanks to developments like Center Parc Stadium, new residential buildings, and a growing restaurant scene. I was at the Night Nation Run EDM-themed 5K at Center Parc Stadium a couple weekends ago, and the energy in this neighborhood is undeniable. You see people walking dogs, families out for dinner, and now the possibility of elite athletes training for national competitions, all in the same few blocks.
The facility would add another layer to what Summerhill is becoming: a neighborhood that mixes serious sports infrastructure with everyday neighborhood life. That balance is rare. It's also a natural fit given Atlanta's Olympic history. The 1996 Olympics put Atlanta on the global sports map, and Summerhill was part of that story. Bringing a legacy facility back to this area feels like closing a loop that's been open for 30 years.
What This Means For Local Athletes and the Community
The immediate impact would be felt by high school and college athletes across Georgia who currently have to travel to Alabama, Tennessee, or the Carolinas for indoor competitions. A facility like this could host regional and even national meets, which means bringing thousands of athletes, families, and coaches into Atlanta and specifically into Summerhill multiple times per year.
But it's not just about elite competition. Community access matters too. If structured right, a facility like this could offer open track hours, youth programs, and training clinics for runners of all levels. That's the difference between a facility that serves 500 athletes and one that serves 5,000 residents.
Summerhill already has a solid food scene with spots like Grits and Eggs Breakfast Kitchen and Southern National. Adding an indoor track facility would only bring more foot traffic to local businesses, especially on competition weekends when out-of-town visitors need places to eat and hang out between events.
Where the Proposal Stands Right Now
Community engagement is running through July, and Atlanta Track Club is presenting the plans to the Grant Park Neighborhood Association this week. The APS Board of Education is expected to consider the project in August. If approved at that stage, Atlanta Track Club aims to have a Definitive Agreement in place by the end of September. Anyone who wants to weigh in can submit input through Atlanta Track Club's community engagement portal.
his project represents something bigger than just another sports facility. It's about Atlanta reclaiming its Olympic legacy in a tangible way that benefits everyday athletes, not just elite professionals. Indoor track facilities are expensive and rare, which is exactly why Georgia not having a dedicated competition facility has been such a glaring gap. If the Cheney Olympic Legacy Complex gets built, it positions Summerhill as a legitimate sports destination while reinforcing the neighborhood's trajectory as one of the most dynamic areas in the city. The timeline is real and the partners are credible, but it still needs board approval and community buy-in. I hope they prioritize community access alongside elite competition. That's what would make this truly special.
