Latest from People, Places, Parks
Everyone’s a Birder. They Just Don’t Know It Yet.
By Brooke Michael, Birds Georgia Communications Coordinator Everyone’s a birder. They just don’t know it yet. That’s a common refrain among Birds Georgia staff, because we know that once you start noticing birds, you’re hooked. And lately, it seems like more and more people are joining the flock. Bird feeder cameras have become must-have gadgets.…
Drought is a wakeup call for Atlanta’s park and tree communities
By Hannah E. Jones, Park Pride’s Marketing & Communications Manager Atlanta is parched. At the time of writing this column, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire state of Georgia is under severe, extreme, or exceptional drought. While our dry spell has finally come to an end with recent rain, predictions show that the…
Sponsored By:
SaportaReport is proud to present the latest in Thought Leaders from across Georgia. Designed as a general forum where experts may host discussions about their respective fields, SaportaReport Thought Leadership is sponsored by various industry leaders from the Atlanta area. Atlanta is known as the City in the Trees! Atlanta Beltline Partnership, Birds Georgia, Georgia Conservancy, Park Pride, and The Nature Conservancy contribute stories on the rich history of Atlanta’s nature scene, conservation and how we can create a better Atlanta one greenspace at a time.
More on People, Places, Parks
Introducing Georgia’s Roadmap For Marsh Conservation
A regional partnership spanning North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida released targeted plans for each state this month to conserve coastal salt marshes—grassy wetlands that fill with saltwater and drain as the tides ebb and flow. These habitats protect communities and more than a dozen at-risk military installations from floods, provide fish breeding grounds,…
Atlanta Beltline’s 404 Day of Service Unites 200+ Volunteers and 12 Colleges Across the City
On 404 Day 2026, Shirley Clarke Franklin Park was alive with the energy of more than 200 volunteers from 12 Atlanta-area colleges and universities, all showing up to give back to the city they love, and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joined in the fun. The annual 404 Day of Service, held on Atlanta’s April 4…
Recreating Community, One Park and One Home at a Time
By John Ahmann, President & CEO, Westside Future Fund, and Michael Halicki, President & CEO, Park Pride Prior to 2015, English Avenue didn’t have a single park. Not one. In a neighborhood nested in the historic Westside community that was once one of the most vital centers of Black intellectual and civic life in America —…
Georgia Bird Fest Is a Celebration of Spring Migration
By Brooke Michael, Birds Georgia Communications Coordinator It’s been a long, cold winter for birders. Don’t get me wrong: winter birding can be fun. There are weird ducks, sneaky sparrows, and less foliage to contend with when trying to spot birds up in the trees. But nothing compares to spotting your first warbler of spring…
Springtime in the city: See you in a park!
By Hannah E. Jones, Park Pride’s Marketing & Communications Manager Spring is almost here, y’all! Some days it feels like summer, others we’re back to winter. But on March 20th, spring will have officially sprung! The beauty of living in such a forested city means that you don’t have to go far to enjoy the…
From vacant to vibrant: Using greenspace to drive community prosperity
By Vanessa Miot, Park Pride’s Friends of the Park Senior Manager “I don’t think we should hold neighborhoods hostage because of the fear of gentrification,” said Anika Goss, CEO of Detroit Future City (DFC). Anika is a 30-year veteran in community and economic development, spending her career working in the most vulnerable neighborhoods with families…
The Georgia Conservation Tax Credit
With the vast majority of the state’s acres under private ownership, the conservation and restoration of private lands in Georgia are especially important. In Georgia, a significant funding mechanism that supports private land conservation is the Georgia Conservation Tax Credit (GCTC). During the 2026 Georgia Legislative Session, House Bill 1148, sponsored by Representative Chas Cannon…
Atlanta Beltline Launches 2026 Free Empower Workshop Series with Vision Board Event
On Feb. 28, 2026, the Atlanta Beltline continues its 10-year tradition of community empowerment with the launch of its 2026 Empowerment Workshop Series — kicking off with a hands-on, goal-setting workshop designed to connect people’s vision with practical action. The Vision Board Party at Plywood Place will urge people to blend creativity with strategy, clarify…
Parks, Resilience, and the Power of Coming Together — All at Park Pride’s Parks & Greenspace Conference
By Hannah E. Jones, Park Pride’s Marketing & Communications Manager Picture this: Over 500 park experts, leaders, and advocates coming together for a day of learning, sharing best practices, and making connections to strengthen our parks and the neighborhoods they serve — all with the backdrop of a sea of vibrant tulips in full bloom.…
A Century Later, Georgia’s Birds Still Need Us
By Adam Betuel, Executive Director, Birds Georgia On a warm July evening in 1926, more than 400 Purple Martins roosted in shade trees along Capitol Avenue – making a pit stop in Atlanta during their annual fall migration. But the birds’ presence wasn’t welcome by all. Neighbors complained of noise and unsanitary conditions. Police officers…
Designing for resilience is no longer optional, and parks play a crucial role
By Teri Nye, Park Pride’s Director of Park Visioning For Gena Wirth, designing for resilience isn’t a nice-to-have or a cherry on top — it’s a necessity. Gena is Design Principal & Partner at SCAPE Studio, a landscape architecture and urban design studio based in New York that focuses on new ways to knit nature…
What Keeps the Atlanta Beltline Moving
As the Atlanta Beltline turns 20, let’s take a moment to reflect on what’s been accomplished so far and what lies ahead. This anniversary is more than a milestone: It is a celebration of a collective vision. Neighborhoods connected, parks created, trails built and communities strengthened. It’s also a call to action, because public and…
“My mind has been blown by this program”: Nine park leaders graduate from Park Pride’s Park Stewardship Academy
By Hannah E. Jones, Park Pride’s Marketing & Communications Manager “What I’ve gained from the Park Stewardship Academy program is nearly immeasurable, and to be a steward of something is a true honor. My mind has been blown by this program,” said Marianna Lee with the Friends of Mountain Way Common. On Saturday, nine park…
Birds Georgia Announces Statewide Georgia Birding Trail to Celebrate Centennial
By Adam Betuel, Birds Georgia, Executive Director As part of its 100th anniversary celebration in 2026, Birds Georgia will launch the Georgia Birding Trail, a landmark legacy project designed to connect people, birds, and nature while strengthening the state’s growing nature-based economy. Georgia will become one of more than 25 states with a statewide birding…
Parks, People, Policy: Park Pride’s next chapter
By Omari Henderson, Chair of Park Pride’s Board of Directors Park Pride envisions an Atlanta where everyone has access to a great park. That’s the core of our new 2030 Strategic Framework, which will inform our work over the next five years. As Board Chair, this is the type of work that I’m passionate about,…
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