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While Atlanta’s movement on the 2022 ParkScore from #49 to #27 is promising, no one has ever been satisfied with coming in 27th place. A lot of challenging work lies ahead to achieve the park system that Atlantans want and deserve.

In this contribution to People, Places, and Parks, Park Pride’s Executive Director, Michael Halicki, examines the categories upon which the ParkScore is built to better understand the local context of Atlanta‘s standing and identify the opportunities to progress. Then, George Dusenbury (Georgia State Director of The Trust for Public Land) frames Atlanta’s ParkScore ranking within a national context and provides insight into how Atlanta compares to other leading and peer cities.

SOURCE: Saporta Report

The City of Atlanta has secured its spot as number 27 on the 2022 ParkScore Index from The Trust for Public Land (TPL). Atlanta sat at number 49 last year, but thanks to recent improvements in park access and increased investment, the city jumped 22 spots within the past year. Atlanta improved the most in rankings of any city on the list. Local leaders are celebrating this win for parks in Atlanta.

SOURCE: Saporta Report

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

SOURCE: Saporta Report

On Monday, March 28, Atlanta-based nonprofit Park Pride hosted its 21st annual parks and greenspace conference at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. This year’s theme was “The parks we need now,” a point driven home by local community leaders and experts from all around the country.

SOURCE: Saporta Report

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

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