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Parks And Green Space Planning In Atlanta

Piedmont Park, Atlanta

Piedmont Park. Photo by Anton Sokolov/iStockphoto.com

If parks are the green heart of a city, Atlanta is undergoing some much needed care. With funding from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Fund conducted an assessment of open space protection opportunities. The results showed that Atlanta has one of the nation’s lowest percentages of parkland per capita. Using our recommendations, the Blank Foundation is working with the city to expand its open spaces.

We’re adding big, safe city parks that offer new places to relax and play in Atlanta’s greater metropolitan area. Based on the Fund’s recommendations, the Blank Foundation focused on providing greenspace and parklands in currently underserved and economically disadvantaged areas. By the end of 2008, we had protected more than 150 acres of prime parkland worth over $11 million and in 2009 we added nearly 10 additional acres and 1.6 million dollars in added value. These projects offer both environmental and economic benefits to a rapidly growing region.

“We can help a community figure out what its goals and priorities are,” said Will Allen, director of strategic conservation at the Fund. “Once they do, implementing an interconnected network of parks and open spaces becomes a shared vision where everyone in the community can benefit.”

LEARN MORE

The new Falcons stadium in Atlanta offers potential for transformative infrastructure planning. Learn about the Fund's green infrastructure efforts in this article from the May 2013 Georgia Trend magazine:  "Sustainable Georgia: Green Infrastructure."

Green Infrastructure

Green Infrastructure Services

Green Infrastructure Projects

Places We Work: Georgia

CONTACT

Stacy Funderburke
Stacy Funderburke Atlanta, GA
(404) 221-0405


Stacy Funderburke is a real estate associate in the Georgia office and has been with The Conservation Fund since 2009. He is working on land conservation efforts in Georgia and Alabama, including expansion of parks and greenspace within the metro Atlanta area. Prior to joining the Fund, Stacy worked as in house securities counsel for Mirant Corporation and as a corporate and securities attorney for Troutman Sanders, LLP. Stacy has a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Georgia and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Will Allen
Will Allen Chapel Hill, NC
(919) 967-2248
wallen@conservationfund.org

Director of Strategic Conservation Planning Will Allen helps metropolitan areas, rural communities, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and the military identify and protect our most important lands.  He holds a B.A. in Urban Studies from Stanford University and an M.R.P. in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.