Connecting on Common Ground at Park Pride’s Parks & Greenspace Conference

It’s that time of the year again! Over here at Park Pride, we’re excitedly preparing for the 2025 Parks & Greenspace Conference on Monday, March 24! (Photo by Virginie Kippelen.)

Originally published on SaportaReport.

Parks are for everyone. They are places of common ground that give us a shared sense of community, where people of different backgrounds, ages and incomes can gather, play and relax. Parks remind us that our differences aren’t as big as we sometimes imagine.

Community and togetherness are the cornerstone of Park Pride’s 2025 Parks & Greenspace Conference, with the theme Connecting on Common Ground.

Hosted at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on Monday, March 24, the annual Conference is an educational and inspirational event for elected officials, community and nonprofit leaders, park workers, funders and other park advocates who are all driven to improve parks and strengthen communities. Registration is open, with a discounted rate for government and nonprofit partners.

This is the largest parks conference in the southeast, bringing in over 500 attendees. Last year was our highest attendance yet — and as our audience expands, so does our curriculum. This year, we’re offering 50% more sessions than last year!

“This is my favorite time of year!” Park Pride President & CEO Michael Halicki said. “Tulips are in bloom and park advocates in the Atlanta region are joined by other local and national leaders to connect, share insights and to get energized about the power of parks. Attendees, myself included, leave inspired and ready to take action!”

With the theme Connecting on Common Ground, the focus areas include Cultural and Historical Connections, Nature Connections, Infrastructure Connections, and Uncommon Connections. The program — which includes keynotes, panels, workshops, and outdoor presentations — is led by both local and national experts.

We have three incredible keynote speakers on the program, including:

  • Torey Carter-Conneen, Chief Executive Officer at the American Society of Landscape Architects. Torey was appointed ASLA’s CEO in 2020 and, in 2021, led the development of ASLA’s “2030 Vision,” which emphasizes raising awareness of the interconnectedness of people, planet, and space. As landscape architects and design professionals increasingly face the need for inclusive community engagement and strategies to tackle issues like climate change and resilience, Torey will share insights on how the sector is responding to these and other critical challenges.
  • Hannah S. Palmer, writer and artist from the Southside of Atlanta. Through essays, memoir, and public art projects, she explores how hidden histories and wildness shape our lives in the urban landscape. In addition to being an accomplished writer, Hannah is also an artist with ideas on how to improve Atlanta. Expect to hear about the need for more bathrooms in public places, the need for residents to rally around their watersheds through a futuristic Department of Urban Springs, and more!
  • Jon Jon Wesolowski, avid urbanist, national speaker, and content creator. Jon Jon is passionate about decoding what makes spaces great, and his TikTok channels have garnered over 8.6 million likes and over 400,000 followers. After spending eight months abroad exploring cities, he continues to advocate for better urban spaces in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee and beyond.

If this sounds like a day well spent (and we guarantee it will be), get your ticket today!

Keep an eye on our website and social media pages (@parkpride) for additional announcements regarding the full-day program. We look forward to seeing you there!