By Kelly Ridenhour
The South River Forest Coalition is a group established by residents of south DeKalb County comprised of environmental, civic, and community organizations, individuals, and residents who support and advocate for the South River Forest vision. We are reaching out to inform local groups of the project and request your help!
The South River Forest exists in parts and pieces of the wetlands and forests in our established South Atlanta neighborhoods. The “big idea” is to connect and expand on these pieces to create “The South River Forest.” An emerald necklace of 2,000 to 3,000 acres of connected greenspaces will celebrate and protect the South River watershed, bring connectivity to southeast metro Atlanta in both Fulton and DeKalb counties and ultimately maximize the quality-of-life potential for its residents.
The Coalition is encouraging other organizations to help gather local input by spreading the word and sharing the Atlanta Regional Commission Survey before October 2022. This survey will help determine the South River Forest boundaries and priorities for future planning efforts.
Presently, much of this undeveloped, wooded land is privately owned and at risk of development. A long history of disinvestment and environmental injustices in the South River Forest have created an area in which the City of Atlanta and DeKalb County now have the opportunity to co-invest to maximize the quality-of-life potential for its residents. We need to provide local input on this issue! Below are several calls to action:
Complete the Atlanta Regional Commission Survey at www.publicinput.com/SouthRiverForest before October 2022. This survey will help determine the South River Forest boundaries and priorities for future planning efforts.
Follow @southriverforest and share this post and survey on your social media, neighborhood groups (Facebook, Nextdoor, Google Groups, etc.), and newsletters. This action is essential for spreading the word.
Sign up with the South River Forest Coalition. The South River Forest Coalition is a community organization that supports and advocates for the SRF vision. Sign-ups will keep you up-to-date on the SRF news and volunteer opportunities. Visit and subscribe at www.southriverforest.org.
