Newsroom

Meet Hannah Wynelle Studdard

Hannah Wynelle Studdard is a lifelong Georgian. As Park Pride’s Executive Assistant, she supports Executive Director Michael Halicki, coordinates with the staff leaders at Park Pride, and serves as the liaison for Park Pride’s Board of Directors.

Mattie Freeland Park: Envisioned, Championed, and Built by Community

“This is a community space: envisioned by community, championed by community, and then built by the community.” Dr. Mironda Williams, granddaughter of Ms. Mattie Freeland. This simple yet powerful statement cuts to the heart of what makes Mattie Freeland Park so special and why Park Pride is committed to making great parks accessible to all. Read more in this month’s contribution to Saporta Report by Park Pride’s Director of Communications & Policy, Rachel Maher.

SOURCE: Saporta Report

Enhancing the Resilience of Our Region

At Park Pride, we are motivated by the philosophy of the power of parks. That is “When parks meet the needs and reflect the unique character of the communities they serve, they are welcoming places for all members of the community to gather, play, relax, and connect with nature, encouraging mental and physical health and enhancing the resilience of our neighborhoods.” What is meant by parks have the power to enhance the resilience of our neighborhoods? In this month’s contribution to the Saporta Report, Park Pride’s Director of Communications and Policy, Rachel Maher, reflects on this question through the lessons learned at the Regional Leadership Institute.

SOURCE: Saporta Report

Sara González Park: Of the community, for the community

The Sara J. González Memorial Park is a small, triangular greenspace nestled in Atlanta’s Westside that’s become a center for community and inclusivity. Unveiled in 2018, the park was named in memory of González, a changemaker in the local Hispanic community.

SOURCE: Saporta Report

A Ribbon Tying to Celebrate a New Youth Soccer Field at Sara J. González Park

On September 23, neighbors in northwest Atlanta gathered at the Sara J. González Park. On this day (the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month!), they were not gathering for a lesson in the learning nook, an interfaith prayer vigil, nor a cultural festival. Instead, they were there to celebrate a new youth soccer field, funded by a $50,000 grant from Park Pride!

A Vision for Stronger, Greener Communities 

If you’ve ever watched a bunch of ants working out how to reach the sugar water dripping from a hummingbird feeder suspended high above their heads, you were probably amazed by their ingenuity and tireless pursuit of their goal. How will they ever attain something so far out of their individual reach? They do it (faster than you’d imagine) with a network of fellow ants—with their community.  In this Saporta Report article, Park Pride’s Teri Nye discusses how communities are coming together to demand multifunctional parks, and why two parks in particular were selected to receive park design assistance through the Park Visioning Program.

SOURCE: Saporta Report

A New Opportunity to Move Atlanta’s Parks Forward

Park Pride’s vision is an Atlanta where every neighborhood has access to a great park. However, through the public engagement process that informed Activate ATL, we learned that some Atlantans feel discouraged from visiting parks due to maintenance issues and past-due upgrades. To address this challenge, Park Pride is exploring opportunities to pair public and private dollars and approach park improvements comprehensively–following through on both large and small upgrades concurrently–to transform underutilized parks into welcoming and activated community greenspaces.

SOURCE: Saporta Report