Vote to Improve Parks + Trails on May 24!

At the ballot box Tuesday, May 24, YOU can advance the vision for a greener, safer, more connected City of Atlanta by approving three ballot measures that will provide $750 million for greatly needed improvements to streets, sidewalks, parks, recreation centers, and public safety facilities.

SOURCE: City of Atlanta Mayor's Office

Mayor Andre Dickens’ 2022 State of the City Address as prepared for delivery

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has a powerful vision for our city: “one city with one bright future.” And a bright future includes quality greenspace close to home *for all.* In his State of the City Address last week, the Mayor highlighted Park Pride’s most recent slate of grant awards totaling $2.3M to fund capital improvements in parks across the city (60% of the dollars will benefit parks in low-income neighborhoods). These funds, and Park Pride’s continued partnership with the City of Atlanta, will help make quality parks for all a reality.

SOURCE: City of Atlanta Press Release

The Courage to Change

With how much Atlanta has changed and is changing, does it stand to reason that the “old” way of managing, funding, planning, engaging, and activating parks is still effective? Will “how we’ve always done it” cut it? And do we have the courage to change?

In this month’s contribution to Saporta Report’s “People, Places, and Parks” Park Pride’s Michael Halicki and Rachel Maher reflect on these questions and the lessons learned from the 21st Annual Parks & Greenspace Conference.

SOURCE: Saporta Report

Park Pride’s 2022 Inspiration Awards

Park Pride’s Annual Inspiration Awards honor leaders who demonstrate a profound commitment to strengthening the connection between parks and their surrounding community.  At this year’s Parks & Greenspace Conference, we proudly recognized and celebrated six individuals who nurture the bond between their community and local park.

New Atlanta park will have access to the Chattahoochee River

The City of Atlanta is getting a new park with direct access to the Chattahoochee River — a first for the city. Referred to as Lower Paul Park, the newly acquired land was made possible as a result of continued partnerships with The Conservation Fund and Park Pride, two of the organizations who are members of the mayor’s newly announced Greenspace Advisory Council. The purchase of these properties will bring future access to the Chattahoochee River.

SOURCE: The Georgia Sun

Lessons from a Grant Cycle

Park Pride’s recent slate of grant awards is different than past years’. Beyond the size of the total awards ($2.3M) and the changes to our Grantmaking Program that focus more squarely on equity, we gained important knowledge through this grant cycle about the communities we serve, the changing landscape of Atlanta, and the future of Park Pride.

Read more in our monthly contribution to “People, Places, and Parks” in Saporta Report.

SOURCE: Saporta Report