In 2008, the City of Atlanta's Project Greenspace identified Buckhead's District 7 as the lowest "parked" in the entire city. Councilman Howard Shook took exception to this finding and decided it was not acceptable for the community. Councilman Shook approached BATMA and the Buckhead CID and asked for assistance in identifying the action plan necessary to bring Buckhead up to the standards of a truly world class community.

To achieve Councilman Shook's goal, the Buckhead Community Improvement District and the Buckhead Coalition cobbled together the funding to support a comprehensive effort and partnered with BATMA to manage the development of a District 7 Community Greenspace Action Plan.

The goal of Buckhead's Greenspace Action Plan is to further develop initiatives proposed by Atlanta's Project Greenspace Plan, to result in a host of immediate and longer term actions that enhance green space opportunities in the community.

To achieve this goal, the community is looking to do the following:

1. Analyze the Buckhead community as related to local and national service standards and define the appropriate standards for the community.
2. Explore previously untapped resources for green space implementation including but not limited to publicly owned lands and rights-of-way.
3. Identify cutting edge techniques such as public private partnerships/Redfields to Green Fields to grow the greenspace system.
4. Identify the resources (financial and other) necessary to support the greenspace system
5. Develop a 10-year action plan that will bring Buckhead’s green space levels to those outlined in Project Greenspace that will ensure the community’s continued world class positioning.

BACKGROUND: Atlanta’s Project Greenspace was part of the 2008 Atlanta Comprehensive Development Plan, which provided a framework and action plan to guide the City of Atlanta in achieving a world class greenspace system by the year 2030. The report identified 12 major initiatives proposed to grow, manage, and build capacity for greenspace that may be applied to the Buckhead Community.

Grow the Greenspace System

1. Develop a citywide greenway network
2. Establish new greenspaces to meet priority needs
3. Create a citywide trail system incorporating the BeltLine Loop Trail
4. Revise Atlanta’s development regulations to promote greenspace dedication in new developments.
   
   Manage the Greenspace System
5. Implement a phased program to meet citizens’ needs for recreation facilities and programs over time.
6. Continue to improve parks and maintenance and security to “best in class” standards.
7. Integrate storm water and greenspace management through the use of natural, multi-functional storm water solutions.
8. Increase Atlanta’s tree canopy to meet the goal of 40% coverage through a “Green City” initiative.
   
   Build Capacity
9. Identify a sustainable greenspace funding program, including funding sources dedicated to growing and managing the greenspace system.
10. Increase city resources devoted to greenspace planning, design and implementation.
11. Building public and private partnerships to grow and manage the greenspace system.
12. Initiate a communications and outreach programs to inform and involve the Atlanta community in implementing Project Greenspace.