In Search for Green Space, Atlanta Has Both Challenges and Hope, New Study by Research Atlanta Finds.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2003

Research Atlanta today released a new study on open space titled, "Open Space Acquisitions and Management Opportunities in the City of Atlanta and Adjacent Jurisdictions."

This study was written by authors Lee Ross and Alycen Whiddon; it is available online at www.researchatlanta.org.

The study identifies the obstacles to acquiring and maintaining open and green spaces in the metro Atlanta region. Metro counties were examined to determine what efforts are currently being made to improve the amount and quality of open and green space in metro Atlanta. Nine comparable U.S. cities were researched regarding their structure and funding for public open space/park acquisition and maintenance.

"With better coordination of government agencies, we see reasonable opportunities to update development guidelines and zoning regulations -- updates that will begin a chain reaction toward better open space policies and actions," said Debby McCarty, Executive Director of Research Atlanta.

"High-growth areas can be tamed by land development codes that mandate parks and open space. Unfortunately, those requirements do not exist in most jurisdictions, and real progress can only be achieved if these antiquated codes are revamped," said Alycen Whiddon, co-author of the study. Major recommendations of the study include:

-- Support the continued funding of the Georgia Greenspace

Program.

-- Acquire open space ahead of development.

-- Jurisdictions should coordinate land acquisitions.

-- Establish a regionally linked, collaborative open space

system.

-- Educate the public on the many values of open space and

donated land.

-- Modernize outdated zoning codes to encourage open space

acquisition.

-- Amend public works codes to better utilize easements and

rights-of-way.

-- Identify a sufficient dedicated funding source to purchase

green space.

-- Use Georgia DOT resources to build multi-use trails.

-- Support the creation of an open space non-profit organization.

-- Establish park endowments.

-- Give "green group" non-profits the tax-exempt status of

religious institutions.

-- Identify a major open space project within the I-285 circle

for implementation.

Research Atlanta, Inc. is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization that studies problems affecting metropolitan Atlanta. The goals of the organization are to develop and present reliable, unbiased information about community issues to Atlanta area leaders in a manner that encourages informed policy planning and implementation. Research Atlanta presents information on community issues to the general public so that it can better understand and participate in decisions affecting the community. Research has been conducted in such areas as public education, taxation, government structure, private philanthropy, housing, delivery of government services, and transportation. Research Atlanta is affiliated with the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University.