Justin Cutler’s last day as Atlanta’s commissioner for parks and recreation was May 29, completing nearly four years in that position.
In an exit interview with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Cutler offered advice on selecting his successor. The mayor should share his love for parks and recreation. Then Dickens should set a challenge: try to get Atlanta to be in the top 10 of the Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore ranking of the 100 most populous cities in the country.
“That goal is going to resonate with the person he’s looking to recruit to Atlanta,” Cutler said of his advice to the mayor. “Set that challenge: ‘I want to see us in the top 10.’”
Before Cutler began his tenure Atlanta’s parks commissioner on Aug. 1, 2022, Atlanta had ranked 49th in 2021. In May 2022, Atlanta’s score had jumped to 27th.
“Under his leadership, the Department of Parks and Recreation has embraced innovation, equity, and collaboration, helping Atlanta make remarkable progress in a very short time,” said Michael Halicki, president and CEO of Park Pride, an independent nonprofit that works closely with the parks department.
Today, Atlanta’s ParkScore rank has improved to No. 18 among the nation’s cities.
“That is an extraordinary leap,” Halicki said. “It reflects intentional investment, strong partnerships, strategic planning and a commitment to ensuring more Atlantans have access to quality parks and greenspace.”
In an interview with SaportaReport on his last day, Cutler elaborated on his discussion with the mayor.
“It will be a big inspiring point to whoever he is able to bring to Atlanta,” Cutler said. “He would be putting out there that he’s a mayor who wants to see great things from his parks and recreation commissioner. The person would see that as an awesome challenge, and they’re going to rise to the occasion.”
The city is expected to have a national search for Cutler’s successor.
I asked Cutler if there is a pathway to go from a ParkScore of 18 to 10
“There’s definitely a pathway,” he responded. “The biggest challenge we face in Atlanta is park acreage and the need to acquire more land. We’re projected to enter an economic downturn. Land is going to stay the same price or go down. So now is the opportunity to buy land and advance parks in an aggressive way. We also need to build more amenities — more splash pads, more dog parks, more basketball courts, more bathrooms. That will help the park score too.”
During the first four years of the Dickens administration, the City of Atlanta acquired 600 more acres of parks and greenspace — more than all the land acquired in the previous 12 years.
Of course, when the city adds more parks and green space, it also needs to increase its maintenance and operations budget. The city doubled the parks millage rate on July 1, 2023, to help devote more resources to park maintenance.
But the city’s latest general budget proposal included a 5 percent decrease for parks and recreation — a conversation that was underway when Cutler’s departure was announced.
Cutler pushed back when asked if the city was going backward.
“Our money has increased year over year for the last four years under the mayor’s leadership,” Cutler said. “I know that our mayor is committed to the parks and green spaces, and the funding has followed that. This is a tight budget year. Fortunately, we have the parks millage, which allows us the opportunity to make strategic decisions to prevent layoffs or other further cuts within the Department of Parks and Recreation.”
Cutler said there are five funds that contribute to his department’s revenues and that it was important to look at the budget holistically.
As to the future of Atlanta’s parks and recreation, Cutler was upbeat.
“My tenure in Atlanta has been amazing. There’s no place like Atlanta,” Cutler said. “We have a strong community: Park Pride, the conservancies, the Friends’ groups, the corporate sector. When it comes to the nonprofit and social infrastructure, there’s nothing like it.”
So why is he leaving? Cutler and his wife Anne have been looking for land where they could have an organic farm and wellness resort. They had put in some offers to buy property in the Atlanta area, but those deals fell through.
Then they saw that a 20-acre property, Cave Creek Farm, was available in the Trout Lake area of Washington, which would be closer to their homes and their two children’s grandparents. They also had always wanted to live in that part of the country. It had a beautiful house, a working farm and an event space that could be operated as a wellness resort.
“It was just serendipity,” said Cutler, adding that it was a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
A farewell reception for Cutler was held at Park Tavern on May 28, overlooking Piedmont Park. Despite only three days’ notice, the reception drew people from all over the city representing numerous constituencies. Several city leaders attended, including several city councilmembers.
It was an appropriate setting showing firsthand the challenges Atlanta’s parks face. Steps away from the reception, the Piedmont Park meadow was scarred with mud left over from the Atlanta Jazz Festival and a rainy Memorial Day weekend. Councilmember Alex Wan has set up an advisory committee to look at festivals and events in Piedmont Park, the city’s signature park.
“We have great relationships with the Piedmont Park Conservancy, and we do a phenomenal job supporting Piedmont Park,” Cutler said. “I know the mayor and my team are open to suggestions from the community as long as they preserve people’s rights to gather, assemble and have a good time.”
Cutler also said that, in addition to parks, the city has expanded its recreation services to support teen and senior programs. He highlighted Camp Best Friends, which was founded 45 years ago during the administration of the late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson.
So, what advice would Cutler share with Atlanta residents?
“Atlanta is an amazing space and an amazing place,” he said. “The partnerships, the commitments to healthy living, active lifestyles are evident. People want more parks. They want more green spaces. They want more opportunities for recreation. And the mayor and the team at the city are committed to delivering that.”
In an era of climate change with more volatile storms and flooding, Cutler said parks and greenspaces are critical.
“Parks are like green sponges,” Cutler said. “They help to soak up and mitigate flooding. The more we can do to identify places that are prone to flooding, reduce the number of people living in those places and provide them alternatives and then also build green infrastructure to mitigate the impact of climate change and mass flooding by building repairing areas, wetlands, restoring land, that will go a long way to saving lives, saving dollars and helping Atlanta be a great place.”
Rob Brawner, executive director of the Atlanta Beltline Partnership, closing comments to Cutler at the farewell reception, summed up the moment:
“You have raised the bar. You have left us in a better place than it was when you got here,” Brawner said. “You’re going to do some great stuff. You’re leaving to go pursue a dream.”
