Mayor, Council Members Support PARC Pledge

Atlanta, GA – October 28, 2013 –Mayor Kasim Reed, Atlanta City Council, and a number of candidates for office have announced support for the PARC Pledge, a four point pledge to improve Atlanta’s parks and park system.  In addition, a broad coalition of park advocates and business leaders have committed their support to the PARC Pledge as well.

PARC, the Parks Atlanta Rescue Coalition, was founded in 2001 through a partnership between Park Pride and several organizations. For more than a decade, PARC has rallied support around a shared agenda of improving Atlanta’s parks and greenspace to positively impact Atlantans’ quality of life, public health, and the environment and economy of the city.   

A product of the Coalition, the pledge outlines the four key points requiring community and city commitment in order to improve the state of parks in Atlanta. By signing the PARC Pledge, one agrees to support:

1.       The funding of operations and maintenance of Atlanta’s parks to meet a higher standard of excellence

2.       The acquisition and development of additional land for parks and greenspace to ensure all Atlantans live within a 10 minute walk of a park

3.       Programs at parks that encourage healthy, active kids and engaged communities

4.       Opportunities to make all parks safe, crime-free areas

All Atlanta City Council Members have signed the pledge, including Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell and Council Members Carla Smith (District 1), Kwanza Hall (District 2), Ivory Lee Young, (District 3), Cleta Winslow (District 4), Natalyn Archibong (District 5), Alex Wan (District 6), Howard Shook (District 7), Yolanda Adrean (District 8), Felicia Moore (District 9), C.T. Martin (District 10), Keisha Lance Bottoms (District 11), Joyce Sheperd (District 12), Michael Julian Bond (Post 1 At Large), Aaron Watson (Post 2 At Large) and H. Lamar Willis (Post 3 At Large).  Atlanta City Council candidates Mary Norwood (Candidate for Post 2 At Large) and Andre Dickens (Candidate for Post 3 At Large) have also signed the pledge

Mayor Kasim Reed released the following statement in support of the PARC Pledge: "My administration's commitment to Atlanta's parks is unwavering and we commend the leadership of Park Pride for the establishment of its PARC Pledge. Under my administration, we have made vast improvements to our park system, but there is certainly more work to be done. Through collaboration with Park Pride, our Department of Parks and Recreation and other key stakeholders, we will continue to provide our residents with award-winning parks and greenspace to enjoy now and for generations to come."

A number of park conservancies, neighborhood “Friends of the Park” groups, and environmental and sustainability organizations have signed the pledge. These groups include: Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, Buckhead Community Improvement District (CID), Chastain Park Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, Friends of Little Nancy Creek Park, Friends of Ira B. Melton Park, Friends of Peachtree Hills Park, Friends of Walker Park, Grant Park Conservancy, Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy, Livable Buckhead, Metropolitan Atlanta Urban Watershed Institute (MAUWI), Midtown Alliance, Olmstead Linear Park Conservancy, Park Pride, Piedmont Park Conservancy, Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land, South Fork Conservancy, Sustainable Atlanta, Trees Atlanta, Trust for Public Land and West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA).

 "The PARC Pledge has rallied together a broad constituency that stand together in support Atlanta's parks and greenspace," said Michael Halicki, executive director of Park Pride.  "We are appreciative of the many groups that have joined in this effort thus far.  We expect this coalition to grow even further in the weeks and months to come."

It is worth noting that a number of business groups have also signed the PARC Pledge including the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, Midtown Alliance and the Buckhead CID.  “Atlanta’s business leaders get it,” added Halicki.  “Great cities have great parks and great parks are good for business and economic development.”

Individuals, organizations and institutions that are interested in signing the PARC Pledge can find the pledge on the Park Pride website. Simply download the PDF, sign, and return by email. Park Pride also hosts a PARC meeting on the second Thursday of every month for constituents to discuss current park and greenspace issues. The next PARC meeting will be held on November 14th, 7:30am at the Ben Hill Recreation Center. Future meeting dates and times can be found on the Park Pride calendar.

About Park Pride: Founded in 1989, Park Pride is the only organization that works with communities all over Atlanta and DeKalb to improve their parks. The nonprofit engages communities through volunteer projects, community gardens, community-led park redesigns and by receiving grants for their parks. Park Pride is active in greenspace advocacy and educating both civic leaders and the general public about the benefits of parks. The organization also hosts the Annual Parks and Greenspace Conference, which attracts professionals and park advocates from across the United States, that will be held on Monday, March 31st 2014. Learn more about Park Pride at www.parkpride.org.