By Hannah Jones
Park Pride, an Atlanta-based parks nonprofit, is proud to award over $20,000 in funding to nine park projects across the City of Atlanta and DeKalb County through its Small Change Grants Program. The Small Change Grants are awarded annually, and the program is supported by an anonymous donor.
From invasive species removal and native plantings to erosion control and tree care, the neighbor-led Friends of the Park groups are investing directly in the parks their communities cherish, engaging volunteers and often creating opportunities for community education along the way.
“Neighbors know their parks best. Each project started with community members noticing something in their park that needed care, and Park Pride is proud to bring the resources to help make it happen,” Director of Grantmaking & Implementation Andrew White said.
The recent grants will fund projects in numerous parks including:
Glen Emerald Park – Planting native species to combat erosion and support local pollinators in partnership with Beech Hollow Farms and the Georgia Native Plant Society.
Red’s Farm Preserve – Installing tree identification signage. The Friends of the Park group will continue to offer educational opportunities — building on ecological stewardship, which was a guiding principle for the Vision Plan that the community recently completed alongside Park Pride’s team of park designers.
Park Pride’s Small Change Grant Program supports community-led park improvements that strengthen stewardship and help neighbors shape and care for their local greenspaces. Rooted in Park Pride’s goal to empower communities and catalyze meaningful park enhancements, these small grants have a big impact in ensuring local parks meet community needs.
Park Pride is grateful for its partnerships with the City of Atlanta’s Department of Parks & Recreation and DeKalb County’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Affairs.
Founded in 1989, Park Pride empowers communities to shape and steward their neighborhood parks, catalyzes community-driven park improvements, and champions parks as essential civic infrastructure. We improve parks in ways people value, grow public and private investment, and help all Atlantans benefit from healthier, more connected communities. Learn more at parkpride.org.
