College Square Redesign Project Begins
Friday, February 6th, 2026
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The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov), in partnership with the Athens Downtown Development Authority (ADDA), has started the long-term redesign of College Square, a signature public space in the heart of downtown Athens. Construction on the College Square Redesign project began on January 28, 2026. The project is envisioned to transform College Square between East Broad Street and East Clayton Street into a people-focused public open space that supports the vitality of downtown. Substantial completion of the College Square Redesign project is expected to take eight months with the space being open prior to the first UGA home football game on September 5, 2026. Final completion is expected by October 2026. The new design prioritizes the pedestrian experience by improving circulation and enhancing connections, including ADA accessibility, between major downtown destinations and the University of Georgia. The project will be tailored to the character of downtown and is based on community input, offering improvements to paving, seating, landscaping, seating, and lighting. The plaza space has been reimagined with events in mind, including live music, artisan and farmers markets, seasonal celebrations, pop-ups, and street festivals. Some of the new amenities of the College Square Redesign project include enhanced lighting, new tables and chairs, benches, overhead shade sails, and large trees and new plantings in planters better designed for an urban environment. The project is coordinated by the ACCGov Capital Projects Department and the ADDA. The College Square Redesign project cost is approximately $6.5 million dollars and is funded primarily by the ADDA through financing and parking revenue. TSPLOST 2023 is providing $500,000 for the project. Design concepts draw inspiration from the walkability and aesthetics of the University of Georgia’s North Campus to create what is described as a “handshake” between the university and downtown Athens. The goal is to reinforce College Square as a central civic space where residents, students, and visitors can gather, linger, and connect. ACCGov's Transportation and Public Works Department and Central Services Department closed College Square to vehicles in October 2020 as part of the Covid-19 response. The six-month pilot project closed this block to vehicular traffic and temporarily converted the area to a pedestrian and dining plaza. In the spring of 2021, the Mayor and Commission voted to permanently close College Square. On November 6, 2024, the Mayor and Commission approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the ADDA for the process of redesigning College Square with long-term changes. For more information on the College Square Redesign, including timelines and updates, visit www.athenscollegesquare.com or contact the ACCGov Capital Projects Department at 706-613-3025. Resources
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