The Sandy Springs Conservancy was established in 2001 in a grass-roots effort by concerned citizens to preserve rapidly disappearing greenspace and recreation areas in Sandy Springs. The Conservancy's flagship project is The Great Park at Morgan Falls, a proposed riverside park along the Chattahoochee River and Morgan Falls Road. The Conservancy is guided by a volunteer board of directors and is a non-profit, tax-deductible 501C3 organization. The Sandy Springs Conservancy is an initiative of Sandy Springs Revitalization, Inc.
A proposed pedestrian bridge would span the Chattahoochee River near the Morgan Falls Dam. A bridge would connect the Great Park with National Park Service trails in Cobb County making the Great Park at Morgan Falls a critical hub in a regional park system.
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The Great Park at Morgan Falls
A study was conducted and a master plan for the The Great Park at Morgan Falls was developed in 2003 with the support of Fulton County Commissioners Tom Lowe and Bob Fulton. The commissioners have also set aside $350,000 for the implementation of park amenities. View The Great Park Master Plan in PDF format/ 4MB.
The park master plan encompasses much of the Morgan Falls Road corridor and forested land along the river at the historic 1904 Morgan Falls dam. Plans call for the connection of public and privately owned river-front land to existing public and recreational amenities on Morgan Falls Road. Proposed enhancements along Morgan Falls Road such as walking paths would link the Blue Heron Golf Course, Morgan Falls Ball Fields, the R.V. “Dick” Schmalz Recycling Center and Environmental Education Center to walking trails at the riverfront.
A riverside amenity area, a pavilion area, an entrance gate and a small dog park are also identified in the master plan. A proposed pedestrian bridge spanning the river would link the park to 1,100 acres of National Park Service land in Cobb County creating a critical link in a regional greenspace and trail system spanning Cobb, Fulton and DeKalb counties.
In December 2004 a consultant was hired to design Phase I Amenities in preparation for the first phase of construction. Phase 2 is expected to include development of the riverside park area and a dog park, depending on the success of our fundraising efforts.
Fundraising Efforts
The Conservancy is in the process of raising funds to begin implementing Great Park projects. In November 2003 the Conservancy received a $100,000 grant from an Atlanta-based foundation for the park efforts. In addition to seeking grants, the Conservancy welcomes private donations. Donate
You can help by becoming a friend of the Sandy Springs Conservancy. Community support is important to the success of our projects to provide more park space and preserve greenspace in Sandy Springs.
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