Mayor Andre Dickens announced the acquisition of the 50-acre Tatum Lakes property, the first step in transforming the urban forest into a publicly accessible park and nature preserve.
Located in Southwest Atlanta and loosely bound by Boulder Park Drive SW, Dollar Mill Road SW and Bakers Ferry Road SW, the site will offer residents and visitors the opportunity to experience nature in one of the city’s most ecologically significant landscapes.
The Conservation Fund negotiated and acquired this land on behalf of the city, working with the city as a key partner in the project. The city’s cost for the 50-acre Tatum Lakes property was $1.6 million, according to The Conservation Fund’s communications manager Josh Lynch.
“This project is personal to me—as a kid growing up in Adamsville, I passed these lakes every day going to school, DPR recreation centers for afterschool activities and pretty much anyplace I was headed to or from,” Dickens said in a statement. “Acquiring the Tatum Lakes Nature Preserve ensures this greenspace will be protected for generations to enjoy. We have made investing in our greenspaces a priority—Atlanta now invests more than twice the national average per resident. Our parks help create a healthier, more connected city, and conserving this land is just one way our Administration is reversing decades of underinvestment in underserved communities for Atlanta families and seniors.”
“Tatum Lakes Nature Preserve has always been a shared point of pride for my District 10 constituents and all who call Adamsville home,” Dist. 10 Councilmember Andrea L. Boone said “Thank you to Mayor Dickens, his Administration—especially DPR—for their for their collaboration and commitment in expanding access to greenspaces in Southwest Atlanta and citywide.”
Guided by community input, the Tatum Lakes Nature Preserve will protect sensitive habitats while expanding access to outdoor recreation through the creation of low-impact trails and amenities, according to a press release. The property includes approximately four acres of lakes and wetlands surrounded by a mature oak-pine-hickory forest, providing critical ecosystem services such as stormwater management, wildlife habitat and carbon sequestration.
Roberta Moore, Senior Field Representative for The Conservation Fund, said: “Working with the City on projects like this one is so enjoyable because we’re inevitably working toward creating someone’s new favorite park. And protecting these 50 acres in particular helps preserve our ‘city in the forest’ legacy while becoming a place where people connect with nature and each other. Just like Mayor Dickens and the many others who are involved, I have high hopes for this land becoming a fantastic new community space.”
The city purchased the property using Tree Trust conservation funds. Federal investment will be pursued to support master planning and initial capital improvements. Long-term stewardship will be managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation.