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Arthur Blank has big plans for Georgia Dome site

ATLANTA — Once the Georgia Dome is demolished, grass and trees will rise from the dust.

On Friday, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons announced a plan to landscape the 13 acres on which the Dome sits.

"It will be a place where we celebrate culture, theater, music, food, arts, in any form or fashion. So we bring together all of us,” Arthur Blank said.

In the shadow of the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Blank says it will be a family-oriented greenspace called The Home Depot Backyard.

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"The Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Atlanta community are going to have the best backyard in sports, built by The Home Depot,” company CEO Craig Menear said.

Officials said it will be a place open to residents not just on game day, but every day.

This is another step to revitalize the city’s west side, which is a longstanding goal of the Falcons owner.

"He is the person you need to call when the city needs help. I joke all the time, but I mean it in my heart -- he is Atlanta's own Bruce Wayne,” Mayor Kasim Reed said.

"And to create this park space where the human connection, the most important connection we can have, can take place. Around events, the people will tell us. Youth events, senior events, community events, bringing all of Atlanta together,” Blank said.