Jackie is the summer 2020 Marketing and Communications intern at Park Pride! She comes to us from Georgia College and State University, where she is majoring in Mass Communication with a concentration in Digital Media and is graduating this upcoming December. In her free time, Jackie likes to play board games and go hiking in … Continue Reading →
Four more Atlanta school playgrounds will be redesigned to go from recess to neighborhood recreation. The Atlanta Community Schoolyards project is an effort to transform school playgrounds into public parks that serve students during the school day and are open to residents after the final bell rings and on weekends. Students get to help redesign the spaces, and donations will pay for about $110,000 in construction upgrades at each site. The goal is to create more accessible green space across the city — parks that residents can enjoy within a short walk of their homes.
SOURCE: Atlanta Journal Constitution
In this column for Saporta Report’s “People, Places, and Parks,” Executive Director, Michael Halicki highlights changes coming to Park Pride’s grant programs to make them more equitable.
SOURCE: Saporta Report
Torey comes to us from Decatur, where his interest in design and environmental planning began in high school. He went on to graduate with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Design from Auburn University and is now earning his Master’s degree in Environmental Planning and Design from the University of Georgia. We asked some questions to get … Continue Reading →
Say hello to Marylyn Chen, Park Pride’s Community Building intern! Marylyn is an undergraduate student at Georgia Tech, where she’s earning her degree in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Computing and Intelligence. In her free time, she likes to dance, travel and spend time out in nature. We took some time to talk to … Continue Reading →
The City of Atlanta’s Department of Parks and Recreation has launched a comprehensive master planning effort, ActivateATL: Recreation and Parks for All! During this challenging time and beyond, the Department of Parks and Recreation is committed to building a better parks and recreation system that meets the needs of all Atlantans. Now is your … Continue Reading →
“While many of us have perhaps never thought of parks and recreation centers as critical infrastructure, that is, in fact, the exact the purpose for which they were originally created. While the modern idea of parks has become associated with playgrounds, baseball fields, and park benches, parks in America actually began as an initiative to improve public health during past pandemics and increase urban resiliency.” In this month’s contribution to the Saporta Report’s “People, Places, and Parks,” Executive Director, Michael Halicki shares the major lesson from the COVID-19 health crisis and that parks are not all just fun and games.
SOURCE: Saporta Report
Atlanta continues to make steady progress in its “ParkScore,” according to the Trust for Public Land’s annual index among the nation’s top 100 cities. The 2020 ParkScore index showed Atlanta placing 40th nationally – up two spots from last year’s score of 42. Its rank is a marked improvement from 2013, when it placed 65th; or from 2015, when its score was 70th.
SOURCE: Saporta Report
We know parks play a vital role in our wellness as places where we’re able to connect with nature close to home. Those who make it possible to continue to visit our local parks—that is, the staff and essential workers of our local departments of parks and recreation—deserve our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for their service and sacrifices during this difficult time.
SOURCE: Saporta Report
Over the past several weeks, while shutdowns and stay-at-home orders clashed with the colorful arrival of spring, metro Atlantans flocked to local parks and trails. You may have been among them, perhaps because you recognize that parks play a vital role in the health and wellness of our residents. The importance of this role has … Continue Reading →
