Sandy Springs residents and business owners will get their first chance to shape the city's next parks blueprint at two open houses in August, as the Recreation & Parks Master Plan update moves from advisory committee work into full public engagement.
The city scheduled the meetings for Monday, August 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Church of the Redeemer, 5185 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, and Thursday, August 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sandy Springs Municipal Complex, 620 Morgan Falls Road, according to sandyspringsga.gov.
The plan, last updated in 2019, guides decisions on greenspace, greenways, trails, parks, and open space across a system that includes more than 950 acres of parkland, more than 20 parks, and 22 miles of Chattahoochee River shoreline.
What the plan will decide
The update will assess the current parks inventory, identify needs and priorities, recommend improvements, and develop a phased implementation strategy, according to the city. It's running alongside the city's Comprehensive Plan update under a joint initiative branded "The Next Chapter," which together will shape land use, infrastructure, housing, and economic development policy for the next 20 years.
The Perimeter Community Improvement Districts highlighted the initiative in June, noting its direct relevance to the Perimeter Center business district.
Demand is clear. A 2024 community survey by Sandy Springs Together drew more than 1,700 responses, with trails ranking second (21%) and family-friendly parks and playgrounds third (16%) among residents' priorities for the city.
Process so far
The planning process kicked off on May 20 with an advisory committee meeting at City Hall. A public workshop followed on June 23 at the Conference Center at City Springs. The city's consultant team includes Rhodeside & Harwell, Perez Planning + Design, and TSW.
Sandy Springs Conservancy board member Linda Bain sits on the advisory committee. The Conservancy's initial recommendations center on walkability, completing the trail plan, conducting gap analysis to determine where parks and trails are needed, and exploring new funding tools, according to the organization's June newsletter.
One project already in motion: City Council on April 7 awarded a $3.98 million construction contract to Eastern Builders Inc. for Old Riverside Park, a 23-acre nature-based playground and picnic area at 6500 Old Riverside Drive.
Design work on Morgan Falls Trail Segment 2C, a 1.6-mile connection from Morgan Falls Overlook Park to Roswell Road, was more than 30% complete as of May. City Council is expected to consider funding for the segment before the end of 2026.
How to participate
Residents who cannot attend in person can follow updates and complete online activities at PlanTheNextChapter.org. Materials from each public meeting are posted there after the event.
Mayor Rusty Paul, in a June 3 statement launching The Next Chapter, said the effort aims to ensure the city's future is shaped by the people who live and work in Sandy Springs, and encouraged residents and businesses to participate.
The Conservancy's Thought Leaders Dinner, scheduled for Thursday, September 24, is timed to feed recommendations into the planning process before it concludes.
