The Atlanta Beltline, in partnership with integrated marketing agency Alloy, has completed a major overhaul of its digital presence, addressing long-standing challenges in performance, content management, and scalability. The new platform replaces a decade-old WordPress-based site with a modern content management system, Storyblok, designed to adapt to the Beltline’s diverse community needs.
The improvements have been significant:
- 3x faster page load times on mobile
- 40% faster page load times on desktop
- 100% Lighthouse scores for accessibility and best practices
- w3 Award for exceptional website and UX design
The Atlanta Beltline is a transformative urban development project aimed at enhancing community connectivity in Atlanta, Georgia. The Atlanta Beltline project is distinctive due to its collaboration between two organizations: Atlanta Beltline Inc., responsible for trail development, and the Atlanta Beltline Partnership, a nonprofit focused on fundraising and community programs.
Both organizations contribute content to a shared website that hadn't been updated in over a decade, resulting in more than 4,500 pages of outdated information, including community meeting notes, presentations, and various public documents.
“The migration to Storyblok was more than just a technical upgrade; it was a commitment to future-proofing our digital ecosystem, ensuring we can adapt to new technologies and serve our community better,” said Meghann Gibbons, Vice President of Communications & Media Relations at Atlanta Beltline, Inc.
Solving Long-Standing Challenges
The previous site faced issues including slow performance, disorganized content workflows, and limited flexibility. With over 1,400 pages of information catering to residents, visitors, donors, and small businesses, the need for a more adaptable system was clear. Now, residents can access real-time information on construction projects, trail closures, and other updates, allowing them to plan their commutes or leisure activities more effectively.
Key updates include:
- Streamlined workflows: New approval processes ensure content accuracy and empower team members to make updates without technical expertise. Consistent, error-free updates ensure residents can rely on the site for essential information.
- Reusable content modules: A component-based structure simplifies updates and ensures a consistent user experience across the site. Consistent layouts across pages make it easier for visitors to explore maps, events, and attractions without confusion or guesswork.
- Integrated tools: Real-time data connections with Smart Studio for event management and ArcGIS Maps for geographic updates reduce manual effort. This ensures visitors never miss out on the latest happenings, from festivals to fitness classes.
“It’s exciting to see Alloy and Atlanta Beltline’s efforts recognized with a w3 Award for exceptional website and UX design,” said Barry D’Arcy, VP of Partners at Storyblok. “This project sets a new standard for community-focused digital platforms from idea to success by removing barriers between developer and marketing teams to accelerate content delivery.”
The transformation was driven by a vision of creating a digital platform capable of supporting new technologies. Gibbons likened the effort to laying dark fiber beneath the Beltline’s trail—building an invisible foundation to handle future demands.
“With Storyblok, we transformed our outdated digital presence into a fast, flexible platform that meets the needs of our diverse community, allowing us to share vital information seamlessly,” added Gibbons.
Read the full Atlanta Beltline case study: https://www.storyblok.com/cs/atlantabeltline