years park

PARKPRIDE.ORG | SPRING 2019

Great Local Parks are Important! Great cities have great parks. Unfortunately, not all residents have a great park within walking distance of their homes. You can help change that! For 30 years, Park Pride has celebrated the benefits of greenspaces and engaged communities to activate the power of parks. This year, we invite you to join our efforts to ensure that all residents have a great park nearby.

Great local parks are important because they provide:

• Places for children to play • Connections to nature Children need active play to thrive. There is a growing body of research Great parks provide an outlet for young that suggests humans have a need for minds to explore and learn, and for nature and that our health suffers when active bodies to strengthen and grow. we don’t get enough of it. Researcher in this issue An accessible park where kids can play Dr. Ming Kuo (http://bit.ly/mingkuo) safely is a vital component of healthy compares the shortened lifespan of Grants for the Greener Good page 3 neighborhoods! animals confined in zoos to people who lack basic access to nature. Through th 18 Annual Parks & • Places for neighbors to gather parks, our innate need for a connection Greenspace Conference A local park is a place for neighbors to to nature in an urban setting is met. page 4 get to know each other and for kids to meet new friends living nearby. Great Finding My Voice for My parks unify neighborhoods, creating Park and Community page 5 stronger, more resilient cities.

2018 Park Pride Highlights • Places to grow page 7 Community gardens in parks provide increased access to locally grown, nutritious food and opportunities for people to exercise together and build Local children enjoy the There are so many reasons for these kids to love all-abilities playground relationships through gardening. Chapel Hill Park, their local greenspace. at Sara J. González Park. continued on page 2. Photo: Ricardo Martinez ENGAGING COMMUNITIES TO ACTIVATE THE POWER OF PARKS message from board chair: 30 years for the greener good

Melody Darch Park Pride Board Chair This year, Park Pride celebrates a milestone anniversary: 30 Walking along the Proctor Creek Greenway on Atlanta's Westside offers visitors a wonderful opportunity to connect with the abundant nature in our city. years of engaging the community to activate the Great Local Parks are Important from page 1. power of parks. Quality local parks aren’t just a “nice to have.” Amid an explosion of Thirty years of supporting population growth and land development, we need park champions to communities improving parks. advocate for the creation and enhancement of local parks. Thirty years of raising our voices for quality . What can do to become a champion for parks? you Thirty years of boots on the th We hope you’ll join us during our 30 anniversary year to ensure that all ground in local parks and making communities can enjoy the benefits of great parks. Here's how you can help: change happen.

We’ve accomplished so much Friends of the Park 1. Join or Create a Group since Park Pride’s founding in Friends of the Park groups are the “boots on the ground” community 1989, and we couldn’t have done volunteers who are focused on improving and activating a park or it without you. Thank you for your group of parks. Learn more at parkpride.org/friends. passion for parks. I invite you to follow along on Park Pride’s 2. Attend the Parks & Greenspace Conference e-newsletter and social media as This conference will provide you with the motivation, inspiration, we share our favorite memories resources, and connections to make your park dreams a reality! See from the past three decades. more information on page 4 or visit parkpride.org/conference. Now, we’re looking ambitiously toward the future for parks and 3. Attend a Park Meeting Park Pride over the next 30 years. Each month, community leaders and park advocates from Earlier this year, the Board of throughout Atlanta come together for education, networking, Directors adopted a new 3-5 year and to support each other to achieve their park goals. Visit strategic plan. In February, the parkpride.org/parkmeeting for more information. first annual Friends of the Park Summit launched our initiative Volunteer to engage more community 4. champions in local parks. We’re Park Pride’s Volunteer Program offers corporate and community also looking forward to the Parks groups of all sizes the opportunity to dig in for the greener good! & Greenspace Conference on Individuals can also lend a helping hand during Greener Good March 25th which promises to be Volunteer Days. Visit parkpride.org/volunteer to get started! our most exciting conference yet.

Give 2019 holds great promise, and 5. With a gift to Park Pride, you are enhancing community engagement I'm grateful that Park Pride has your support in this new year and in parks, helping to keep parks on the public agenda, and improving new decade. Thanks for all you the quality of life in Atlanta: parkpride.org/donate. Thank you do in support of parks! for your support!

This fall, Park Pride will celebrate 30 years of engaging communities for the greener good! Keep your eyes peeled ~ Melody Darch for an announcement with details. We hope you'll join us!

2 parkviews | spring 2019 This fishing pier at Chapel Hill Park, funded in part by a Community Building Grant, was completed in 2018 and will be enjoyed for years to come! Grants for the Greener Good Congratulations to the 21 Friends of the Park groups that received $864,000 in funding through Park Pride's 2018 grantmaking cycle! To date, Park Pride has awarded over $6.6 million to community park projects, including new playgrounds, bridges, informational kiosks and signage, trails, exercise equipment, community gardens, game fields, pavilions, green infrastructure amenities to help manage stormwater runoff, and more (read the story at bit.ly/pp2018grants). Legacy Grants Community Building Grants (funded by the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation) (funded by The Home Depot Foundation)

The Friends of Armand Park will add a pavilion, The Friends of Lillian Cooper Shepherd Park a raingarden, and a slate trail pathway connecting to will install green infrastructure amenities to manage existing trails. stormwater. They will also renovate the basketball court, Conservancy will expand their exercise area, and sandbox. playground to include a playhouse, fire station, sensory The Friends of Hampton-Beecher Hills Park will tunnel, and musical equipment. restore sections of the trail and install new trail signage. The Friends of Collier Heights Park will update their The Friends of Lithonia Park will install a one-of- play area with a retaining wall, rubber safety surfacing, a-kind playscape and a "Fitness Forest" (equipment) and new play equipment. The park will also benefit from to encourage health and fitness, as well as a "Music new fitness equipment and benches. Meadow" of outdoor instruments. The Grant Park Conservancy will restore several The Friends of Melvin Drive Park will install a new historic elements within the park, including Lion’s pavilion and improve the park's ADA accessibility. Bridge and the Erskine and Milledge Fountains. The Friends of Sidney Marcus Park will enhance the The Friends of Kennedy Park will add a playing field picnic area with an ADA accessible walkway and picnic and resurface the basketball court. A paved walking path tables. and fitness equipment will also be installed. The Friends of Park will expand the The Friends of will add fitness and playground, adding climbing features and a slide. playground equipment to encourage outdoor recreation. The Friends of Zonolite Park will add a new boardwalk The Friends of Sara J. González Park will add a and bridge, a decorative fence along the main trail, and a "learning nook" for programming and a playing field. drip irrigation system in the park's garden.

Small Change Grants (funded by The Home Depot Foundation) Small Change Grants were awarded to Friends of the Park groups at: Cabbagetown Park, Collier Heights Park, Ira B. Melton Park, LaVista Park, Lithonia Park, Longdale Park, Memorial Drive Greenway, Springbrook Park, and Underwood Hills Park.

Learn more about Park Pride's Grant Programs and application deadlines in 2019: parkpride.org/grants.

parkpride.org | for the greener good 3 Park Pride's 18th Annual Parks & Greenspace Conference

Monday, March 25, 2019 | | parkpride.org/conference According to Jane Jacobs, the great urban activist and influencer, for a park to be successful, it must “be where life swirls”– it must be the conduit for cultural and artistic expression for individuals and communities, a catalyst for healthy living, and accessible to and designed for all.

Join us on Monday, March 25th for the 18th Annual Parks & Greenspace Conference, themed Parks are the Heart of Community, as we explore the power of parks to unite and become the foundation upon which all members of a community can grow and thrive!

Keynote Speakers Conference Sponsors presented by

Mitchell J. Silver Gil Penalosa Dr. Nooshin Razani with support from Commissioner of Founder and Chair of Director of the Center for the New York City 8 80 Cities; Chair of Nature & Health, Department of Parks World Urban Parks UCSF Benioff Children’s & Recreation Hospital Oakland

Register Today! sell-out • Regular: $170 event! $190 (March 18 - March 20)

e • Late: c

n register e (day of March 25) r • Walk-Up: $200 e f

n  o  C  1  e Get your seat next to over 450 park advocates, 8 c a a t h FASTi p g A A o r s enthusiasts, and professionals from across the n tla G e e n n u n t a, re al Pa r k s & G country at the largest parks and greenspace To join this list, conference in the Southeast! contact [email protected].

The Parks & Greenspace Conference is a conference for the community as well as park professionals! Community members and park advocates are encouraged to contact Tina Arnold, Director of Community Building, with questions: [email protected]. 4 parkviews | spring 2019 staff spotlight: tina arnold Finding My Voice for My Park and Community

Tina Arnold Park Pride's Director of Community Building Tina Arnold joined the Park Pride team in November 2018. Formerly the Executive Director of Sustainable Lakewood, Tina has 13 years of experience working with community members, volunteer groups, and city officials. Tina has also served as the leader of the Friends of South Bend Park.

I hadn’t lived in Lakewood Heights for long before I got involved in a volunteer clean-up day in South Bend Park. During this project, I noticed a burned community building where families and neighbors used to gather.

A year later, I realized that nothing had been done to repair the building and that it had suffered even more fire damage. But what could I do about it? Who could I even call? I was at a loss and felt powerless to make a change. Finding my voice Meet the people at the Parks & Greenspace Conference that can help That Spring, I attended Park Pride's Parks & Greenspace make a difference in your park! Pictured: Members of Atlanta Mayor Bottoms' 2018 cabinet with Otis Rolley, former North American Director Conference for the first time. I met the Commissioner of 100 Resilient Cities. of Parks and Recreation and asked her directly why the building had not been rebuilt. Not long after, the community building in South Bend Park was restored.

Through this experience, I learned about the power of networking and my own voice to make a difference. Uniting around a vision As Park Pride’s Director of Community Building, I look forward to helping individuals and communities connect and find their voices through the Friends of the Park Program. Friends groups empower and unite communities around shared visions for their parks. When you join or form a Friends of the Park group, you'll take the first step toward improving your park and positively impacting your community—all while getting to know your neighbors! Friends groups are inclusive; everyone is encouraged to join in, to participate in their community, build relationships with their neighbors, and, of course, enjoy the benefits of a clean and relaxing greenspace! Get started! If you’re interested in making a difference in your community and local park, reach out to learn about the Park Pride resources available to make your voice heard!

• To learn more about Atlanta Friends of the Park groups, contact Tina Arnold: [email protected] or 404-723-3116. Contact Tina Arnold and Kayla Altland, Friends of the Park Associate, about engaging your community and activating your park! • To learn more about Friends of the Park groups in DeKalb, Tucker, or Brookhaven, contact Kayla Park Pride hosts regular Park Meetings for Altland: [email protected] or 470-371-7330. Friends groups to learn, network, and share strategies for overcoming challenges. Visit parkpride.org/events for details. parkpride.org | for the greener good 5 businesses that support the greener good news you should know: 2019 Corporate Champions organizational Thank you to the following organizations for their extraordinary generosity updates in support of Park Pride’s annual operating needs, programs and events! board of directors news visionary Park Pride is pleased to welcome Jeff Ellman of Jones Day back to the Board of Directors.

The City of Atlanta’s new Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, John Dargle, Jr., will serve on the Board as an Honorary Director. sustainer

Park Pride also extends our deepest appreciation to the board members who’ve completed their terms: Joe Cronk, Joe Finley, Bob Mullen, Photo credit: Ricardo Martinez Ricardo Photo credit: Sadler Poe, and Lindsey Sones. activator

staff news Since last fall, two new staff members have joined the Park Pride team to support our mission of engaging the community to activate the power of parks: hero

Tina Arnold Dir. of Community Building Contact for: Atlanta’s Friends of the Park Program + community gardens. [email protected]

Erica Glasener Interim Program Assoc. Contact for: advocate Grant Programs + Fiscal Partner Program. [email protected]

Michael Halicki was recently recognized in Trend's 2019 list of "Notable Become a Champion for Parks! Georgians" and in Please reach out to Chad Nash, Atlanta Magazine’s list of Corporate and Individual Giving Associate, to learn more. most influential leaders. [email protected] or 404-546-7984.

6 parkviews | spring 2019 park pride's

2018 Highlights Kathryn Johnston Memorial Park will provide needed community space to English Avenue residents and offer relief from flooding related to stormwater runoff, August 2018.

Community members give input to determine the A Park Pride Legacy Grant conceptual plan for Grant helped fund a complete park Park, June 2018. redesign, which included a new 1 playground, at Sara J. González groundbreaking Park, September 2018. for a new park, Kathryn Johnston Memorial Park, on Atlanta’s westside. $864,397 20 awarded to 21 Friends community- of the Park groups driven park designs through our created through the grantmaking

Photo credit: Ricardo Martinez Ricardo Photo credit: Park Visioning programs. mission Program. to engage communities to activate the power 22,573 of parks 49 volunteer service national and local hours in parks and presenters at the trails with support 17th Annual Parks from 6,732 & Greenspace volunteers. Conference. 167 parks supported by Friends of the Park groups - a new record!

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms welcomes attendees to the Parks & Volunteers spread 900 Greenspace Conference, bags of mulch at Kittredge Park, March 2018. December 2018.

Friends and community members gather in Hairston Park for Earth Day, April 2018. The complete 2018 Impact Report will be available online soon! parkpride.org | for the greener good 7 Park Pride’s Board of Directors Pitch in for Parks! Melody Darch | Chair Cox Media Group In 2018, over 6,500 volunteers dedicated Carlos Perez | Vice Chair time, strength, and sweat to making Perez Planning + Design a difference in our parks! Volunteers Lee Harrop | Secretary created trails, built benches, footbridges Westside Future Fund and kiosks, revitalized playgrounds, Mark Balloun | Treasurer MultiCam Southeast cleared invasives plants, rebuilt habitats Peggy Allumbaugh | At-Large and planted native plants, mulched, Retired Partner, Deloitte LLP hauled trash, and so much more.

On the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Robin Aiken Homrich Berg Service in January, over 80 volunteers joined Park Pride, Atlanta BeltLine Kirk Billings Pope & Land Real Estate Partnership, and the Conservancy at C.J. Cash Historic Washington Park, gathering for Jeffrey Ellman a workday in sub-freezing temperatures Jones Day to honor Dr. King's legacy and the 100th Courtney Fletcher anniversary of Washington Park. Doosan Infracore International, Inc. Liz Gillespie We hope you'll join us this year for a North American Properties Greener Good Volunteer Day. Visit Volunteers gave back on Martin Luther King, Jr. Tanya Hairston-Whitner Day of Service for a volunteer project in The Home Depot parkpride.org for future project dates. Washington Park, January 2019. Matthew Hicks Grady Health System Plan a volunteer project for your community or corporate group. Reach May B. Hollis out to Volunteer Manager, John Ahern: [email protected]. Peachtree Garden Club Barbara Levy Education Connection Advisors David Moss PricewaterhouseCoopers park pride events & deadlines Kristy Rachal Georgia Power March Barbara Reid 14 Park Pride's Monthly Park Meeting Retired CPA 16 "Off the Wall" Atlanta Mural Walking Tour JaKathryn Ross Georgia-Pacific 23 Freedom Park Pedal (bike tour of Freedom Park) Gwendolyn Smith 23 Arts, Athletics, + Mountains, OH MY (play day at ) Invesco, Ltd. 25 18th Annual Parks & Greenspace Conference, Parks are the Heart of Tamara C. Stewart Community Kaiser Permanente Esther Stokes April Stokes Landscape Design 11 Park Pride's Monthly Park Meeting Caroline Vroon Cherokee Garden Club 27 Greener Good Volunteer Day celebrating Earth Day May 1 Application Deadline: Small Change Grant 2 Dekalb Park Meeting Park Pride's Monthly Park Meeting Mission To engage communities to 9 activate the power of parks. 13 Application Deadline: DeKalb County Park Visioning

Park Views Online bit.ly/parkpridenews

Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps @parkpride #forthegreenergood