During Fall 2017, the Georgia Conservancy began work with leadership in the City of Milton to prioritize properties that could add additional acres to the city’s conservation land and greenspace.
Through Fulton County ballot referenda in 2016, residents of Johns Creek and Milton both overwhelmingly supported bond packages totaling $65 million for land conservation and greenspace in their communities.
These measures were publicly supported by a partnership of The Georgia Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land, Land Trust Alliance and The Nature Conservancy in Georgia.
In Milton, the Conservation Land, Wildlife Habitat, Natural Area and Trail Bond will protect water quality in local rivers and streams, provide recreational trails for walking, biking and horseback riding, protect natural areas for wildlife habitat, preserve agricultural land, and create and improve parks.
The funds can only be used for the purposes stated in the referendum and city resolution.
Led by our Sustainable Growth Program and supported by Georgia Conservancy Advocacy and Land Conservation staff, we actively worked with the Milton Greenspace Advisory Committee and City of Milton staff to establish a prioritized set of properties and property interests that reflect the intent of the greenspace bond language and would be appropriate for acquisition with the funds. Our staff also assisted the Committee and City in creating an acquisition strategy that will enable the pursuit of greenspace interests efficiently and cost-effectively.
The Georgia Conservancy applauds Milton leadership and Milton citizens for determining that undeveloped greenspaces within their community are important.