The Sandy Springs Conservancy Inc

THE MISSION IS TO CREATE, CONSERVE, AND CONNECT PARKS, TRAILS, AND GREENSPACE IN SANDY SPRINGS THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH CIVIC PARTNERS, NONPROFITS, AND BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IN 2023, THE SANDY SPRINGS CONSERVANCY ALLOCATED MORE THAN 50,000 TO ADVANCE PROJECTS THAT WILL PROVIDE OUTDOOR ENJOYMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME. SPECIFIC ACTIONS INCLUDE: CREATING A CONSTRUCTION GRANT FOR THE SPRINGWAY TRAIL AND IMPROVEMENTS AT ABERNATHY GREENWAY SOUTH. FUNDING AND MOBILIZING VOLUNTEER WORKERS FOR GARDEN RENOVATIONS AT THE SANDY SPRINGS LIBRARY. WORKING WITH BOY SCOUTS ON AN EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT TO INSTALL AN INFORMATION KIOSK. PURCHASING A LARGE BICYCLE SCULPTURE FROM A LOCALLY RENOWNED ARTIST THAT IS SURE TO BECOME A RECOGNIZABLE FIXTURE ON A KEY TRAIL HEAD. SS CONSERVANCY CONTINUED STEERING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SANDY SPRINGS TRAIL MASTER PLAN. SIGNIFICANT CONSTRUCTION TOOK PLACE ON THE SANDY SPRINGS TRAIL MASTER PLAN SEGMENT 2A. THIS SEGMENT WILL BE A COMMUNITY CATALYST FOR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN AND CONSTRUCTION OF OUR TRAIL SYSTEM. IT IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2024. THE SANDY SPRINGS CONSERVANCY PLEDGED 30,000 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEXT SEGMENT OF THE TRAIL. OUR 2023 TRAIL BLAZER PROGRAM BROUGHT CLOSE TO 100 WALKERS TO NINE DIFFERENT PARKS IN SANDY SPRINGS, LED BY NINE GUIDES WHO SHARED THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE FOCUSED INVOLVEMENT INCLUDES: COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE FOR CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERLANDS FOCUSED ON INCREASING ACCESS VIA TRAILS AND NEW PARKS TO THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER. PARTICIPATION IN CREATING OLD RIVERSIDE PARK WITH NATURAL AMENITIES ALONG THE RIVER. ALLEN ROAD PARK FROM 3 TO 4.5 ACRES TO ENHANCE WALKING TRAILS AND PLAYING FIELDS.

SANDY SPRINGS CONSERVANCY CONSERVES AND PRESERVES: WHILE ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH SEEKING, DESIGNING AND NEGOTIATING PROPERTY AQUISITIONS FOR PARKS, TRAILS AND GREENSPACE, WE PROVIDE SEED MONIES FOR RESEARCH AND PLANNING NEW COMMUNITY ASSETS. WE HOLD 1/2 OF OUR ASSETS FOR FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS ADDITIONAL TRAIL SEGMENTS, PARK ACQUISITION OR EXPANSION, AND FOR A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ACROSS THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER . THESE FUNDS WILL ALSO BE DEPLOYED AS THE NEED FOR MAJOR CONSTRUCTION FUNDS ARE IDENTIFIED.

SANDY SPRINGS CONSERVANCY EDUCATES: THE CONSERVANCY CREATES KNOWLEDGE AND ENTHUSIASM FOR PARKS, TRAILS, AND GREENSPACE. WE ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WITH OUR THOUGHT LEADERS DINNER, PARK APP, WEBSITE, NEWSLETTERS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGING. SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE EXPANDED. PROMOTE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS AND OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, NON-PROFITS AND EVENTS. ANNUAL MAILER, IMPACT REPORT 2023, SENT AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER AS A COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL TOOL AND REVIEW OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THOUGHT LEADERS DINNER WITH THE THEME OF "A TREASURE THAT CONNECTS US". A PANEL OF EXPERTS ON OUR CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER DISCUSSED THE FUTURE OF RECREATIONAL ACCESS, TRAILS, AND CONSERVATION RELATED TO THE RIVER. THE AUDIENCE OF 160+ PEOPLE LEARNED THAT SANDY SPRINGS HAS MORE THAN 20 MILES OF RIVER FLOWING THROUGH IT AND SIX PARKS WITH RIVER ACCESS. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THROUGH EVENTS, VOLUNTEERING, INTERACTION WITH THE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS, BUSINESSES AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. WE HAD TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT PARKS AND TRAILS AT OUR CITY'S FARMERS MARKETS.