Midwest Cascade Explained

Midwest Cascade, also known as West Cascade, is an affluent predominantly African-American neighborhood in southwest Atlanta at the city's far west edge. Together with the tiny neighborhood of Regency Trace, it forms NPU-Q,^[1] the city's fastest growing Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) from 2000 to 2010.^[2]

Location

The neighborhood is 602.1acres large and bounded by the City of South Fulton on all sides, except for the City of Atlanta's NPU-P, bordering the Ashley Courts and Niskey Lake neighborhoods on the southeast.^[3] It includes the following named subdivisions:

• Barrow / Niskey Lake Circle
• Cascade Knolls (Cascade Knolls Drive SW)
• Cascade Pointe
• Elysian Estates (half)
• Guilford Forest
• Oasis of Cascade
• Putters Village (half)
• Regency Park
• Reunion Place at Cascade

Midwest Cascade is located south of Cascade Road, along Regency Center Drive.^[4]

Annexation

The Atlanta City Council voted to annex Midwest Cascade to the City of Atlanta on September 29, 2006.^[5]

Demographics

NPU-Q went from 1,024 residents in 2000 to 1,770 in 2010, an increase of 72.9%.^[2]

The NPU is 96.5% Black (2010 census), the highest proportion of any NPU in the city. Small minorities include Whites (1.4%) and Hispanics (1.4%).^[2]

Parks

As of December 15, 2023, Midwest Cascade is home to the new West Cascade Park located on Danforth Road. The neighborhood's NPU was the last one to officially receive a park.^{[6] [7] [8] [9]}

Education

Atlanta Public Schools serves Midwest Cascade.

Public schools

• R. N. Fickett Elementary School
• Ralph J. Bunche Middle School
• Daniel McLaughlin Therrell High School

Public libraries

• The Atlanta–Fulton Public Library System operates the Cascade Branch in the City of South Fulton.

Transportation

Midwest Cascade is located west of I-285, south of I-20 and Fulton Industrial Boulevard, and north of GA-166 (Campbellton Road SW). It is served by MARTA buses riding along its main roads: Cascade Road, Danforth Road, and New Hope Road.

Notable people

Notable current and former residents of Midwest Cascade include:

• Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms

Notes and References

1. https://gis.atlantaga.gov/docs/npu/npuq.pdf NPU-Q and Neighborhoods Map, City of Atlanta Department of City Planning, June 16, 2023
2. https://www.atlantaga.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/3901/636245709418400000 City of Atlanta 2010 Census Summary Report: Neighborhood Planning Unit Q
3. https://gis.atlantaga.gov/docs/npu/npup.pdf NPU-P and Neighborhoods Map, City of Atlanta Department of City Planning, June 16, 2023
4. http://gis.atlantaga.gov/apps/doc_archive/get.php?doc_id=443 City of Atlanta Annexation Service Plan, Midwest Cascade Area (broken link)
5. http://gis.atlantaga.gov/apps/doc_archive/get.php?doc_id=2801 Annexation ordinance, Atlanta City Council, Sep. 29, 2006 (broken link)
6. https://www.atlantaga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/14896/ Media Advisory: Mayor Andre Dickens to Host Opening of Atlanta’s New West Cascade Park, City of Atlanta, Dec. 15, 2023
7. https://theatlantavoice.com/a-park-in-every-npu-west-cascade-park-gets-green-space-playground/ A park in every NPU: West Cascade Park gets green space, playground, The Atlanta Voice, Dec. 15, 2023
8. https://parkpride.org/december-ribbon-cuttings/ New amenities debuted at West Cascade Park, Melvin Drive Park, Park Pride, Jan. 5, 2024
9. https://www.11alive.com/video/news/local/85-aae060c3-3d4f-4bfb-9ec1-a3e7c1be0c61 Ribbon cutting for New West Cascade Park, 11Alive News (WXIA-TV), Dec. 15, 2023