Decatur to begin $8.5 million downtown square overhaul

The big picture: The 12-month project, which the city hopes to finish before next summer's FIFA World Cup matches, aims to give one of metro Atlanta's downtown success stories a community space that encourages people to stick around and enjoy the square.

Zoom in: Decatur's "Square Shake-Up" plan increases the size of the square and lawn, adds a "hillside" children's play area and swaps out the bandstand with a stage that can host concerts, performances and movie screenings.

• In addition, expect a redesigned MARTA bus terminal, larger open spaces and, importantly, public restrooms.

Context: Funded by a DeKalb County sales tax earmarked for special projects, the overhaul stems from Decatur's Town Plan 2.0, the first major initiative in decades to improve the square and plaza.

• A second phase — timeline to be decided — would include an outdoor pavilion, splash pad and more seating.

What they're saying: "The city hopes the project "sends a clear message that we aren't resting on our laurels when it comes to making Decatur the best it can be for all stakeholders," Angela Threadgill, Decatur's assistant city manager for community and economic development, said in a statement.

Flashback: In 2007, the city spent $5 million to give the square a makeover — a project officials dubbed the "Little Dig," a riff on Boston's problem-plagued yet transformative "Big Dig" project."

What's next: The public will still have access to the square during construction, though crews will close some areas to perform work.