A 14-member citizen panel is helping decide what Sandy Springs parks should look like for the next two decades, and the numbers suggest residents are willing to pay for it.
Survey results presented at the advisory committee's second meeting showed 87% of homeowners at June's first public workshop said they would support a new property tax line item, estimated at about $200 per year, to acquire park land and improve existing recreation areas, according to Rough Draft Atlanta's coverage. Only 13% opposed the idea.
The Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee met Monday, July 20, at 6 p.m. in the Studio Theatre at Sandy Springs City Hall for a working session that included 45 minutes on the city's Recreation & Parks Master Plan and 45 minutes reviewing goals from the 2017 "Next Ten" comprehensive plan. The effort, branded "The Next Chapter," combines a 20-year comprehensive plan update with a new parks and recreation blueprint.
When the city launched the initiative on June 4, Mayor Rusty Paul said the process "is about ensuring that the future of our city is shaped by the people who live and work here."
Ronda Smith, president of the Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods, chairs the committee. At the July 20 meeting she spoke about why neighborhood character matters to long-time residents.
"In my case, it's 29 years later. The size of the lots didn't change," Smith said. "I think that from a character perspective it was and is still very important to folks in terms of not seeing more density come into the core of neighborhoods."
What residents want
Sukirti Ghosh, an urban designer and principal with Rhodeside & Harwell who leads the consultant team, told the committee her team had collected hundreds of citizen comments at pop-up events since May, including appearances at farmers markets, the Juneteenth celebration, and the Stars & Stripes festival on Saturday, July 4.
Results from the committee's first meeting on Wednesday, May 20, ranked an indoor pool, dog-friendly gathering areas, an outdoor pool, community gardens, and paved multi-purpose trails among the top facility priorities. The broader public's first workshop produced a slightly different list, with paved trails, dog-friendly areas, natural parks, and community gardens leading.
Community feedback also showed support for protecting tree canopy, addressing flooding and stormwater challenges, and improving access to the Chattahoochee River, which runs along 22 miles of the city's border, according to Rough Draft Atlanta. Respondents said facilities like Hammond Park and the Sandy Springs Racquet Center need upgrades.
The city has not scheduled a parks bond referendum.
Who's on the committee
The full roster: Smith, Sherri Allen, Linda Bain (also a Sandy Springs Conservancy board member), Jeniffer Barnes, William "Chip" Collins, Raymond Grote, Reed Haggard, Council Member Melody Kelley, Maritza Morelli, Kimberly Oliver, Andrea Settles, Charan Shikh, Natan Trief, and Tyler Ewing. Kelley is the panel's only elected official.
How to participate
Residents can share input online at planthenextchapter.org. Meetings are available via live stream at SandySpringsGA.gov/Stream. Those needing disability accommodations can contact the City Clerk at 770-730-5600.
Upcoming community calendar
- Monday, August 17 – The Next Chapter public open house, 6–8 p.m., Church of the Redeemer, 5185 Peachtree Dunwoody Road
- Thursday, August 20 – The Next Chapter public open house, 6–8 p.m., Sandy Springs Police Headquarters, 620 Morgan Falls Road
