8 Days of Sustainability: Parks and Sustainability
**Guest Blog by Michael Halicki, Executive Director at Park Pride**
The Livable Buckhead Strategic Sustainability Action Plan is an excellent playbook for leading Buckhead towards a more sustainable future. The leadership of Livable Buckhead and its sustainability committee should be commended for this plan. I have paid particular attention to the portion of the plan that highlights the importance of an interconnected network of parks, trails and greenspaces and the role this network can and should play in the future of Buckhead.
Michael Halicki
It is worth noting that greenspace is one of the plan’s eight programmatic areas of focus. In this greenspace section, it highlights four areas that can be described as four specific calls to action:
- Expand parks inventory
- Develop / build out new parks
- Create an interconnected network of parks
- Activate existing and new parks
Park Pride sees this framework as appropriate not just for Buckhead, but for the city as a whole. We have partnered with Livable Buckhead for many years and we appreciate all they have done to advance more and better parks in one of the most “under-parked” areas of our city. While we agree with the assertion stated in the plan that Buckhead is woefully lacking in greenspace, we believe Buckhead’s best days – with respect to parks, greenspace and trails – are in its future. There are great things happening and Livable Buckhead is at the very center of them all. We are thankful to be a partner and to play a supporting role.
The prominence of greenspace in Livable Buckhead’s Sustainable Action Plan is not surprising considering the important role that parks play in advancing sustainability. This is true from multiple perspectives. Parks provide many environmental benefits in managing stormwater, providing shade and lowering ambient temperatures (thereby improving air quality) and providing ecological habitat. Additionally, parks encourage mental and physical health by providing access to nature, places for walking and biking and places for kids to play. They generate economic benefits that enhance the ecological health of our neighborhoods. Great parks make our citizens happy, our communities strong and our cities resilient.
Parks are of critical importance to Buckhead’s sustainable future. Communities without nearby parks lack common spaces where neighbors become friends, where kids become playmates and where the community comes together; parks are at the very heart of our communities. In fact, Parks are the Heart of Community is the theme for Park Pride’s 18th Annual Parks and Greenspace Conference taking place on March 25th at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. I invite you to join us and deepen your knowledge of the importance and the power of parks. Registration is open. I hope to see you there!
About the Author
Michael Halicki serves as the executive director for Park Pride, the Atlanta-based nonprofit that engages communities to activate the power of parks. In 2019, Park Pride is celebrating its 30th Anniversary. Working with over 150 Friends of the Park groups, the nonprofit provides leadership and services to help communities realize their dreams for neighborhood parks that support healthy people, strong neighborhoods, vibrant business districts, a robust economy and a healthy environment. Under his leadership, Park Pride has received 4-star designation by Charity Navigator’s 4-Star Designation and Guidestar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency for several years running. Michael manages staff and programs, supports the board, and leads/oversees advocacy, fundraising, public relations, and program development efforts. He was named as one of “50 Influential Nonprofit Leaders” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in 2016 and 2017. He was recently selected as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s 2019 Notable Georgians and one of Atlanta Magazine’s 500 Most Powerful Leaders (2019).
