Pictured: Staff from City of Stonecrest Parks and Recreation plant native flora during a site visit with NRPA and Bobcat. 

In the scenic suburb of Stonecrest, Georgia, less than 20 miles outside of Atlanta, the South River runs through a forest filled with native flora: dogwoods, red buckeyes, paw paws and wild azaleas. Everett Park offers Stonecrest residents, visitors and passersby an opportunity to engage with this land. Park users have made their way to Everett Park to fish, kayak and otherwise access the water, but they haven’t been able to walk through the park due to the lack of a trail.  

Thanks to the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and Bobcat Company, The City of Stonecrest Parks and Recreation has recently completed a 1.5-mile trail in Everett Park. This trail will open up the dense forest and allow park enthusiasts access to an overlook by the South River. The South River has been the site of conservation and preservation work in Atlanta for some time. The South River Watershed Alliance (SRWA) is one of many organizations invested in community access to the river. SRWA and other organizations, such as the Arabia Mountain Heritage Alliance, have been deeply invested in development at Everett Park, specifically in expanding recreation opportunities for Stonecrest residents and visitors alike. 

This project was one of five made possible by a partnership between Bobcat and NRPA. The other recipients of a $50,000 Bobcat grant were Davidson County in Lexington, North Carolina; The City of Auburn in Auburn, Washington; San Antonio River Authority in San Antonio, Texas; and The City of Buffalo and Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust in Buffalo, New York. We will amplify each of the other four projects in the weeks to come.  

Watch below to learn more about how Bobcat and NRPA are building resilient communities through parks: