Saving One Of The Last Forests In Buckhead

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By: The Conservation Fund

Atlanta is known as the ‘City in a Forest’, yet over half an acre of trees are lost daily to development. A remarkable opportunity has recently emerged to protect 30 acres of forest in the heart of Buckhead, but we must act fast. The 30-acre property was previously home to Lucinda Bunnen, a renowned artist known as the “Godmother of Southern Photography”. Over the last 50 years, she thoughtfully acquired the woodlands surrounding her home that inspired much of her art. After her passing, Lucinda’s home and property were listed for sale, putting this ecological gem and inspirational landscape at great risk of division and demolition.

Atlanta’s Department of Parks and Recreation is anxious to conserve Lucinda’s legacy through the protection of her home and this incredible forest which boasts two miles of walking trails, a cascading stretch of Little Nancy Creek, and countless species of native flora and fauna. This woodland represents one of the only remaining contiguous forests of this size available to protect as a public nature preserve in the northwest corner of Atlanta.

The Conservation Fund has negotiated a purchase price of $13.5M. The City has committed $5M to the project and we have secured a private, leadership-level matching gift of $5M. This leaves a remaining gap of $3.5M that must be secured through contributions and pledges before the end of September 2024. If we cannot reach our goal in time, this forest will be lost to development forever. Your support will ensure this treasured forest is permanently protected and preserved as greenspace for generations to come!

There was a time when Buckhead had the fewest parks per capita in the city. Then, Livable Buckhead got involved. Adding parks for the community is one of our top priorities, which is why we are delighted to support this extraordinary opportunity to secure the property and convert it into greenspace that everyone in Buckhead can enjoy and benefit from. The button below will take you directly to our donation portal.

To help protect this unique property as permanent greenspace in Buckhead, simply choose “Bunnen Property” as decide what amount makes sense for you.