Despite being the 6th largest city in Georgia, Sandy Springs' location, small town community feel and natural landscapes provide residents with a high quality of life. Minimizing traffic congestion, enhancing the walkability of neighborhoods, and improving water quality are all factors in the Sandy Springs Comprehensive Plan.
In addition to those values, the National Recreation and Parks Association established a national Level of Service standard for parkland and greenspace, and in the Master Plan, the City of Sandy Springs had a city-wide shortfall of almost 420 acres to meet this minimum target level of service. The Greenprint helps identify and prioritize land that reflect these values.
Year Published: 2009
State: Georgia
Landscape Context: Inland
Housing Density: Suburban
Habitat Focus: Forest, Developed
Organizations Involved:
The Trust for Public Land, City of Sandy Springs, Friends of Sandy Springs, Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks
Values:
Open Space/Habitat, Recreation, Transportation
Stakeholder Involvement:
Stakeholders were integrated throughout the process.
Planning Process:
The planning process involved both a Steering Committee and a Technical Advisory Team (TAT). Milestones included: a stakeholder goal-setting workshop; stakeholder greenprint model weighting workshop with TAT; and stakeholder implementation strategies workshop.
Desired Outcomes:
The Greenprint aimed to enhance walkability; improve parks; improve water quality; inform watershed and stormwater policies and the local comprehensive transportation plan.
What It Accomplished:
Created opportunity maps for connectivity, recreation opportunities, and traffic congestion mitigation.