Green Space for Everyone: How We’ve Helped Atlanta Close the Nature Gap

Parks Are About More Than Recreation 

When a neighborhood gains a park, something shifts. Kids have safe places to play. Families have somewhere to gather. Residents have daily opportunities to step outside, breathe fresh air, and experience nature — even in the heart of a major city. 

Research consistently shows that access to greenspace improves mental and physical health, strengthens community bonds, and fosters a deeper sense of environmental stewardship. In Atlanta, expanding that access has meant giving more residents, in every zip code across the city, a meaningful connection to the natural world. 

“Balancing the needs of people and nature in a fast-growing city takes vision, commitment, and the right partners,” said Stacy Funderburke, Vice President, Central Southeast Region, and Georgia and Alabama State Director for The Conservation Fund. “What Atlanta has accomplished here is a model for urban conservation done right.” 

What Comes Next 

Atlanta’s greenspace transformation is a testament to what’s possible when public agencies, private foundations, and conservation organizations commit to a shared vision. But the work isn’t finished. 

Continued investment will expand trail networks, improve existing parks, and create new ones — connecting more neighborhoods to nature and to each other, and ensuring that as Atlanta grows, its natural spaces grow with it. For a city that has already proven what strategic conservation can accomplish, the next chapter looks bright.