Category: People, Places & Parks

There’s a reason Georgia is nicknamed the Peach State. Every year, approximately 1.6 million peach trees bear over 130 million pounds of peaches, worth billions of dollars in farm gate value. And while Georgia’s peach production lags behind other land-rich states, the size and prominence of our agricultural sector speaks to a time-honored tradition of […]

The Nature Conservancy is one of the largest conservation organizations in the world, and we employ many different tools to accomplish our goals. We support the protection of endangered species, we rehabilitate and restore ecosystems, and we search for solutions to mitigate climate change. What may come as a surprise to some, however, is that […]

By Jared Teutsch, Executive Director A bird that is heard far more often than seen, the Chuck-will’s-widow’s distinctive call may be heard singing its name at dusk across the Georgia landscape on spring and summer evenings. Very little is known about this elusive, nocturnal species, in part, because they are notoriously difficult to locate. Their […]

By Michael Halicki, Park Pride’s Executive Director   As is often the case, the end of the year is a time of reflection and to take stock of accomplishments. Of the nearly 10 years that I’ve been the Executive Director of Park Pride, 2022 has been the most memorable, due in equal parts to the work […]

By The Conservation Fund Did you know over 40% of farmland in the U.S. is rented? In a survey by the National Young Farmers Coalition, young farmers reported that buying affordable farmland is their top challenge in 2022. Farmland has become an attractive asset for national and international investors, driving the national average of farmland […]

By Rob Brawner, Executive Director of Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Through collaboration and collective investments of multiple public, private, and philanthropic entities, the BeltLine trail corridor is on schedule to be completed by 2030. Finishing other parts of the BeltLine – including the remaining parks – will require similar collaboration and investment.  There is an immediate […]

By Jared Teutsch, Executive Director Birds are all around us … outside windows, in yards, on beaches, in the woods … wherever we look we can find birds. The world has more than 10,000 bird species, and at least 350 species live or migrate through Georgia each year. So how do scientists keep track of […]

By Rachel Maher, Park Pride’s Director of Communications & Policy  There are few days more gratifying at Park Pride than when a neighborhood park, years in the making, is officially opened. And few ribbon-cutting celebrations have moved me as much as the one for Mattie Freeland Park in English Avenue that took place on October […]

By Jared Teutsch, Executive Director Bird migration is one of the most amazing feats in the natural world. Each fall and spring, billions of birds take to the skies, avoiding predators, and dodging turbulent weather as they travel between breeding grounds in the north and wintering grounds in the Caribbean or Central and South America. […]

Reflections on the power of parks after a week at the Regional Leadership Institute By Rachel Maher, Park Pride’s Director of Communications and Policy 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, […]

The former Chattahoochee Brick Company site holds both environmental and historic importance, and we’re proud to have helped secure its protection. We could not accomplish this or any of our important conservation projects across the city without working in partnership with organizations and passionate individuals. Meet an Atlanta native and community champion we partnered with […]

By Rob Brawner, Executive Director of Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Cities across our nation face a keen struggle when trying to deliver green space to their underserved communities. The sincere effort to provide equitable resources and benefits is counteracted by rising housing costs sparked by the higher demand to live in the areas surrounding new parks […]

By Jared Teutsch, Executive Director This week marks the last week of Georgia Grows Native for Birds Month as Georgia Audubon wraps up a month-long celebration of the important connection between birds and native plants. Why are native plants so important for birds, you ask? Without native plants and healthy habitats, we would have no […]

By Teri Nye, Project Manager, Park Visioning Program at Park Pride   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 […]

By Michael O’Reilly, Director of Policy & Climate Strategy, The Nature Conservancy Addressing climate change is mistakenly portrayed by some as a sacrifice that will undermine our economy and reduce our standard of living.  The truth, of course, is that efforts that enhance our use of clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are exactly […]

By Jared Teutsch, Executive Director This September, Georgia Audubon will observe the fifth annual Georgia Grows Native for Birds Month, a month-long celebration of the inherent connection between Georgia’s native plants and birds. This year’s celebration will include a variety of workshops and events designed to help Georgians learn more about gardening for birds and […]

By Michael Halicki, Executive Director of Park Pride  We know that parks bring people together; they’re where we gather with family, friends, and neighbors to play, explore, and relax. Park Pride’s vision is an Atlanta where every neighborhood has access to a great park because every community deserves to enjoy the health and wellness benefits […]

By Rob Brawner, Executive Director of Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Atlanta’s park system is on the rise.  This month marks the one-year anniversary of the opening of the first phase of Westside Park, which was made possible by a leadership gift from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and significant City of Atlanta investments to become […]

By Jared Teutsch, Executive Director Through our mission to build places where birds and people thrive, Georgia Audubon works to educate and engage Georgians of all ages. And we use birds as the lens through which we introduce youth and adults alike to birds, birding, and an overall conservation ethic. In the past year, Georgia […]

By Andrew White, Park Pride’s Director of Park Visioning  Parks and politics? Most people don’t see the natural connection between the two, but they are inextricably linked. Especially within the park planning process, which is something that I think a lot about in my role as the Director of Park Visioning at Park Pride.    As […]