Trust for Public Land Supports $40 million Parks Project!

The Trust for Public Land is a national non-profit seeking to preserve and protect parks for people nationwide. Jim Langford, TPL's state director and longtime greenspace advocate, archeology scholar, and successful former technology entrepreneur, spoke out in the Atlanta Journal Constitution Thursday supporting our efforts here in Cobb county.

The Trust for Public Land has been working in Cobb county quietly but tirelessly on behalf of many parkland opportunities. Their most high-profile effort on behalf of Cobb citizens to date is the preservation of our beloved Hyde Farm in east Cobb county.

Read Jim's remarks below:
http://www.ajc.com/thursday/content/epaper/editions/thursday/cobb_443a22f325f34130008e.html

MY VIEW: County has chance to preserve parkland
Jim Langford - For the Journal-Constitution
Thursday, June 29, 2006

Now is the time for Cobb County and parkland.

Voters in Georgia have spoken --- green space is important to our future, and we must preserve land now for parks. Soon, Cobb County voters may have the opportunity to speak out on this same issue in their rapidly growing county.

Since 1994, Georgians have passed 76 percent of ballot measures that provide public money for land conservation. In doing so, we have generated $755.9 million to preserve green space for this and future generations.

Next month, the Cobb County Commission will be asked to put a $40 million parkland bond package on the November ballot. If the commission does that, and the voters approve it, we could help preserve the quality of life in this high-growth county.

Cobb added 160,000 people during the 1990s and is projected to add 150,000 more by 2030. As we build homes, offices, stores and infrastructure for all these people, the chances for new parkland will dwindle.

Economic development and open space go hand-in-hand: People want to live and work in communities where they can also enjoy the outdoors in a natural setting. To continue to be a desirable place, Cobb and other metro counties need to strike a balance between development and parkland preservation.

By conserving open spaces, we also protect the quality of our water. Undeveloped parkland allows water to be filtered naturally to aquifers, streams and eventually rivers. Construction and impervious surfaces like asphalt create water quality problems and, at the same time, inhibit the long-term retention of that water.

Research shows that preserving land for water quality is less expensive for taxpayers than to clean up polluted water. Since water restrictions in metro Atlanta have become common, it is important to proactively protect our clean water.

While protecting water, parkland acquisition also can help preserve cultural identities by saving historic sites. On lands preserved as they are now, families will be able to enjoy the natural beauty and heritage of our state. And with the proposed $40 million in bonds, Cobb can begin to achieve these benefits without a tax increase.

The Trust for Public Land is working with the Cobb Parks Coalition to move this issue forward and give the voters a chance to be heard. We think residents want to improve their quality of life, protect their water quality and preserve more parkland.

Next month, Commission Chairman Sam Olens will ask his fellow commissioners for approval to place the referendum on the November ballot. With their support, Cobb will have the chance to shape its conservation future. Cobb County and metro Atlanta have the opportunity --- but limited time --- to guarantee a high quality of life for current and future residents.

Now is a great time to go for it --- before our chances slip away.