Pedestrian Bridge to Get $2.5 Million Revamp for All-Star Game

CUMBERLAND — With the 2025 MLB All-Star Game just months away from coming to Cobb, the county and the Cumberland Community Improvement District have partnered on a $2.5 million revamp of a pedestrian bridge near the festivities.

The Cumberland CID’s governing board voted 5-0, with Chairman Bob Voyles and member Alex Valente absent, to allocate $1.25 million to update the footbridge connecting Cumberland Mall to the Cobb Galleria Centre, matching the county’s contribution to the project.

Kim Menefee, CID executive director, said the bridge, built in the 1990s, is overdue for an update.

“It has served this community incredibly well — our businesses, our residents our visitors, for all of these years. But it is in need of a renovation,” Menefee said.

Upgrades will include replacing all lighting with LED bulbs, adding handrails and replacing the panels on the sides of the bridge with mesh. A fresh coat of paint will be added, the bridge will be furnished with Cumberland branding and some general maintenance would be conducted, she said.

The makeover is scheduled to be completed before the July 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park.

“We are moving very quickly on this. ... If things go well, weather cooperates, we will be able to get it done before the All-Star Game,” said Drew Raessler, the county’s transportation director.

Board member Chris McCoy said he looks forward to seeing such a prominent piece of Cumberland get some much needed TLC.

“This is definitely a high point of connectivity for the community, as the studies have shown not only during the baseball season, but throughout the entire year this bridge is heavily used. It’s a lot of eyes from outside of the community that use this bridge,” he said. “So, I definitely support the remodel.”