Communities across the Atlanta area are embracing the health benefits of nature.On April 28th, DeKalb County communities joined others across the country in the celebration of Park Rx Day, a day dedicated to bringing people together outside in their parks to enjoy the health and wellness benefits of greenspace.
The City of Atlanta recently advanced a single position to 42nd out of 100 in The Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore index, a move due in part to the increase in the number of residents who live within a 10-minute walk of a park – 66% last year to 71% this year.
When I heard that Park Pride was celebrating Earth Day with a volunteer project at Zonolite Park, I immediately signed up. I’ve watched the park transform over the years, and as a Park Pride board member, it was high time for me to get my hands dirty. Through this volunteer project, I learned firsthand the … Continue Reading →
As Atlanta’s population grows and the urban environment is developed, our access to nature and greenspace is at risk. What would we lose if we lost our connection to nature? What would that mean for our health and quality of life? And what role do urban parks play in maintaining that connection?
Imagine you’re a kid living in an apartment building in an area of town without access to a park. Where can you go outside to play that’s safe? “If the answer is ‘nowhere,’” says Park Pride’s Executive Director, Michael Halicki, “chances are you’ll just stay inside and play video games. We must do better for these kids, and thinking creatively about our public land is the answer.”
Kathryn Johnston Memorial Park is almost complete! View this short video of this transformational park project under construction.
As Atlanta’s population grows and the urban environment is developed, our access to nature and greenspace is at risk. What would we lose if we lost our connection to nature? What would that mean for our health and quality of life? And what role do urban parks play in maintaining that connection?
SOURCE: Saporta Report
Say hello to Helena Wright, the Community Building Intern with Park Pride this summer. From Newnan, Georgia, Helena is currently a student at Georgia Tech, majoring in Public Policy and minoring in Sustainable Cities and Technology & Management.”The joy parks bring is repaid in kind by the community caring for and maintaining the park.” – Helena Wright
Claire is the Communications and Development Intern with Park Pride this summer, and will soon be transitioning into her role as the Communications Fellow! Claire grew up in Decatur, Georgia and graduated from Davidson College where she majored in Psychology and minored in Environmental Studies.”Quality parks are an investment in the sustainability of communities.” – Claire Weitnauer
“Parks are often one of the only public spaces people feel ownership of, and that sense of ownership can be a powerful organizing force.” – Ruth Pimentel
