Park Pride’s President & CEO Michael Halicki gave this comments during a Community Development/Human Resources Committee on Tuesday, March 10.
As the City begins discussions about the FY 2027 budget, I urge Atlanta City Council to continue its commitment to increasing funding for park maintenance. Park maintenance is arguably the most important—yet often the least appreciated—ingredient of a world-class park system. And this Council plays a critical role in delivering that system through its commitment to consistent maintenance funding.
A few years ago, the City adopted ActivateATL, our 10-year parks and recreation master plan. The plan sets out a vision for a more equitable and high-quality park system—by closing investment gaps, improving maintenance, expanding trails, and connecting residents to nature.
But ActivateATL also identified a serious challenge: decades of underinvestment in maintenance had created a $750 million maintenance backlog.
Since then, the City has made real progress. In 2021, Atlanta ranked 49th out of 100 cities in the Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore index. Today, we have risen to 21st—the highest ranking in the city’s history.
That progress has been possible because this Council has prioritized park maintenance—through the General Fund and through the Park Improvement Fund. The expansion of the Park Improvement Fund, led by Councilmember Dustin Hillis and supported by this body, directed significant new resources toward maintaining our parks.
And the key word there is additional. As budgets get tight, there can be a temptation to shift funding from one source to another. But the purpose of expanding the Park Improvement Fund was not to replace General Fund maintenance funding—it was to supplement it.
As you approach the FY 2027 budget, I encourage you to keep your eyes on the prize: a world-class, equitable park system for all Atlantans.
We’ve made meaningful progress, but continued investment in park maintenance will be essential to sustain that momentum and ensure our parks serve residents in every neighborhood. Maintenance is essential.