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The Sandy Springs/Abernathy Greenway

A new, linear park for Sandy Springs

After years of negotiating and planning with state and county transportation agencies, Sandy Springs residents will soon see a new linear park taking shape along the Abernathy/Johnson Ferry Road corridor. (click on PDF of park design). The Sandy Springs/Abernathy Greenway is a top priority for the newly incorporated City of Sandy Springs and the model for the future network of greenways and pocket parks along our traffic corridors. The Sandy Springs Conservancy (SSC) will play a key role in facilitating citizen input on the park’s design and construction, working closely with the City of Sandy Springs and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to ensure the goals of the project are met.

The Sandy Springs Conservancy will assist the City in securing neighborhood participation in the park design and following the construction, in the upkeep and maintenance of what should become a welcome addition to the City’s parks. While the City will maintain the park, the Sandy Springs Conservancy will work with residents to raise additional funds and staff volunteer projects to go beyond the scope of what the City can provide through taxpayer dollars. The City’s goal is to have park design ready for construction as soon as the roadway construction begins in late Calendar Year 2006.

Peggy Gardner, active member of the Brandon Mill Woods Civic Association, was recently appointed to our Board of Directors and will chair the Sandy Springs/Abernathy Greenway Committee which will coordinate SSC’s work on the project. Peggy brings extensive knowledge and experience to the task. When the initial GDOT plan called for expansion from two lanes to six through Abernathy Road’s shaded residential neighborhoods, residents, including Peggy, fought back and reached a compromise: four lanes and a linear park on land not needed for the road right-of-way. For the past three years, Peggy has served as a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC),) a committee set up to channel communications between GDOT and the neighborhoods affected by the planned road widening. Together, the CAC and GDOT were able to make changes to the road design to address issues and concerns.

We think this project is a significant development for Sandy Springs and will become a model for future road enhancements in our new City – where all stakeholders win: commuters who use the road, neighborhoods affected by the traffic, and the City which wants to provide taxpayers more green space while improving traffic flow. Look for public meeting announcements and volunteer opportunities in our E-Newsletter. Sign up here to stay informed.