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Parks & Green Spaces Committee

The Parks and Green Spaces Committee aims to expand parks in Edgewood and promote stewardship of existing greenspaces. Current parks in our neighborhood include Walker Park, a City of Atlanta park south of Memorial Drive, and the Edgewood Green, a 4+ acre space that is owned by Atlanta Public Schools (APS) and has been leased by ONE since 2021. We raise $4,000 a year to pay APS for the liability insurance to keep this greenspace open to the public. 

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Here are examples of what we work on:

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Historic Trees 

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We have five historic oak trees located near Sugar Creek near Vaughn Street, including Alba, our Champion White Oak, the largest White Oak in the City of Atlanta, and likely the oldest, too, estimated at 250 years old! Alba and the other historic oaks were already mature when they survived the Battle of Atlanta on July 22,1864

 

Sugar Creek

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Urban storm water runoff, strained sewer infrastructure, and other development activities have contributed to high fecal coliform levels in this 8.5-mile tributary of the South River. Learn more about our neighborhood’s impaired creek using the EPA’s waterway tool. Once you have entered an address, you can click on the creek to generate the latest report. 

 

Owls 

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Did you know there are 3 species of owls likely to be found in our neighborhood? The 3 most likely species of owls to find in intown Atlanta neighborhoods are:

  • Great Horned Owls 

  • Barred Owls 

  • Screech Owls (you may be lucky enough to have heard them!) 

(Barn owls are rarely in the area, but it's possible!)

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Building owl boxes to specs recommended by bird experts (easily found online) can help our Edgewood mascot and other migratory birds survive loss of tree canopy. Each owl species requires a different box design.

 

Tree Canopy

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Planting trees is awesome! Newly planted trees provide different ecological services than large, mature trees which are more effective at carbon sequestration and also vital for migratory birds. High-impact development that reduces soil quality and space for tree roots results in lower likelihood of tree success. Innovative designs and development strategies can incorporate protection for mature tree roots so that existing priority trees thrive along with new plantings. Trees provide important benefits including improved human mental and physical health, improved wildlife habitat, reduced erosion, reduced runoff of polluted stormwater, improved creek and river health, and mitigation of climate change impacts. 

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Priorities

Expanding permanent green spaces

improving Creek Health

preserving tree canopy

Improving Walker Park

Meeting and Contact Info

Join us! This committee communicates often and meets as needed. If you are interested in joining the committee, email us and let us know what type of work you’re interested in! 

Resources

From the website: "The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is committed to building strong communities and a vibrant economy by providing safe and exceptional parks, facilities, and programs through effective leadership, collaboration and innovative thinking. DPR strives to deliver quality customer service through the development, operation, and maintenance of the City's public parks, recreation centers, and facilities to create an environment that is deemed safe, affordable, and enriching for residents and visitors."

From the website: "In December 2021, the City of Atlanta adopted Activate ATL: Recreation & Parks for All, DPR's Comprehensive 10-year master plan. [It is] aimed at increasing access to exceptional recreational programming, fostering community connections to nature through parks and trails, and ultimately, helping to improve the health, happiness, and resilience of all Atlantans, in all neighborhoods. This is the first City of Atlanta comprehensive parks and recreation plan since 2009 and includes the most robust and inclusive community engagement effort the Department has ever undertaken."

From the website: "Park Pride helps communities enhance parks and greenspace through advocacy, volunteerism and capital improvements."

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