Park Pride is pleased to welcome Vanessa Miot to the team as our Community Services Associate! In this position, she will support Friends of the Park groups as they work to improve their parks, build their capacity to make positive change, and strengthen community through the stewardship of public greenspaces. Continue reading to get to know Vanessa and join us in welcoming her to the parks community!
Friends of Springlake Parks (FoSP), a nonprofit organization based in the Atlanta neighborhood of Springlake, proudly celebrated the official reopening of its neighborhood “pocket” park, McKinley Wilson Triangle Park, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, May 19.
It’s that time of year again — the ParkScore index has been released, bringing the opportunity to reflect on Atlanta’s park system. Created by the Trust for Public Land (TPL), the annual ParkScore ranks the 100 most populous cities based on five categories — access, investment, equity, amenities and acreage. This year, the City of Atlanta was placed at No. 28. This is one spot lower than last year, but TPL noted that the city’s new ranking was based on changes within other park systems, not missteps in Atlanta.
SOURCE: Saporta Report
District 9 Council member Dustin Hillis introduced legislation to make the largest new, yearly commitment to parks in Atlanta in half a century. The legislation will bolster the City’s dedicated Parks Improvement Fund by approximately $16 million annually, ensuring the City has the funds to properly maintain new and existing parks, recreation centers, and trails. “I appreciate the support of my City Council colleagues, our parks advocacy organizations like Park Pride, and the continued support from the philanthropic community,” Hillis stated. “Once passed, I truly believe this will unlock a true ‘golden age’ of parks here in our great city.”
SOURCE: Atlanta City Council
Park Pride and REI are teaming up to get Atlantans outside, supporting parks, and enjoying the great outdoors! On June 3, join Park Pride and REI for a volunteer project at Lionel Hampton Park in celebration of National Trails Day. Volunteers will help maintain trails that are enjoyed by locals who like to hike and … Continue Reading →
There is a lot of momentum within the parks movement in Atlanta right now, so much so that it’s had Park Pride’s Executive Director, Michael Halicki, wondering whether we’re on the brink of a “golden age of parks.” Read his thoughts on its feasibility and what it would take to get there in this month’s contribution to Saporta Report’s “People, Places, and Parks.”
SOURCE: Saporta Report
Happy Earth Day! Park Pride, working in partnership with the Friends of Stone Hogan Park, Atlanta’s Department of Parks & Recreation, Trees Atlanta, and LIFE Church, hosted a volunteer workday to cleanup and beautify Stone Hogan Park in Southwest Atlanta. Volunteers picked up trash, removed invasive species, refreshed the pavilion, and opened site lines to … Continue Reading →
As Clorox continues to celebrate Earth Month and a $100,000 grant to Park Pride through their Healthy Parks Project, more than 40 volunteers from Clorox, Friends of Reverend James Orange Park, Georgia STAND-Up, and others spent the day cleaning up trash, planting flowers and painting benches to keep the park ready for play.
SOURCE: The Clorox Company
Earlier this year, Park Pride excitedly welcomed Shannon Roudebush to the team as the Sponsorship and Annual Fund Manager. In this position, she works closely with sponsors and donors to expand the influence and impact of Park Pride’s mission. Shannon graduated from the College of Charleston in 2018 with a bachelor’s in Arts Management. Prior … Continue Reading →
The City of Atlanta is home to 447 parks and, as a result, 77% of residents can walk to a local greenspace within 10 minutes. That number is significantly higher than the national average of 55 percent. While this is a great feat, local leaders must still work to ensure that these spaces are activated and well maintained — a major topic of discussion at Park Pride’s recent 22nd annual Parks and Greenspace Conference.
SOURCE: Saporta Report
