Active Initiatives
Help fund initiatives you care about.
“OLD RIVERSIDE PARK” RESTORATION AND REGENERATION PROJECT
Environment Sandy Springs (ESS) is collaborating with community stakeholders to enhance the ecological health, biodiversity and public enjoyment of the city’s future Old Riverside Park.
ESS contributes financing, contracting, and coordination of professional environmental crews, Sandy Springs Eco Stewards and volunteers to remove invasive species, plant and propagate native plants, and enhance the biodiversity of this rich natural resource park. Additionally, ESS organizes and leads experiential volunteer events and educational programming with expert oversight, supporting the city’s Eco Stewards program. These efforts are designed to conserve, restore and enhance the park’s natural features through community engagement and research-informed stewardship.
Streambank & Riparian Native Biodiversity Enrichment
As highlighted in green on either side of the Nancy Creek tributary into the Chattahoochee River, ESS is spearheading ecological restoration of riparian forest and streambank areas through:
● Manual invasive species removal and select native plantings, conducted by professionally contracted crews and/or Sandy Springs Eco Stewards.
● Volunteer engagement and training events, including manual invasive species removal and native plantings, guided by professional environmental crews and or Sandy Springs Eco Stewards.
This program will help preserve and enhance the natural topography, wooded areas, and native ground cover along the river corridor, setting the stage for community trail walks and ecological literacy programming such as species identification tours, fish and amphibian creekside talks, among others.
”ECO SLEUTH” CHILDREN’S PROGRAM
An educational experience for Sandy Springs’ parents and children (grades 3-5).
Discover how we can all be heroes for the planet—starting in our own backyards! This interactive, kid-friendly presentation brings soil, bugs, birds, and native plants to life through games, storytelling, and hands-on fun. Together, we’ll uncover the hidden magic of ecosystems, learn how to turn lawns into living landscapes, and explore simple ways families can protect and restore nature, one yard at a time.
Children will be given a plan to implement at home. It will involve learning what to look for, observing closely, and documentation of what you discover with photos, drawings and writing. Upon completing the assignment and turning it in to ESS a special pin will be sent to each child. Upon leaving the presentation each child will be given an Eco Sleuth goodie bag which will include a magnifying glass, a notebook, colored pencils and more!
This is a free event sponsored by ESS. Space is limited and registration is required. Use the QR Code on the ESS website to reserve your spot. There will be three events in 2026. Each event held at Lost Corner Preserve, 7300 Brandon Mill Road NW, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.
“RIGHT IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD” PROGRAM
It’s a little-known fact that 95% of all the land in Sandy Springs is privately-owned. Thus, it is up to us, the citizens to step in and help. Many citizens need education on what specifically they can do. In 2026 ESS is introducing a program called “Right in Your Own Backyard” that provides “how to” information and training on effective ways to transform your yard into a healthy and productive ecosystem that directly benefits you and our community. ESS will be making educational presentations to neighborhood groups, HOA’s, Garden Clubs, Churches, Civic Groups, etc. starting in 2026.
Things citizens can do right in their yard or neighborhood right now:
Learn how to transition your yard into a healthy, productive ecosystem that is both beautiful, ecologically beneficial and will save you money in the long run. Organize your street or neighborhood to adopt a nearby stream, name it if it does not have a name, monitor the water quality (enlist a local scout troop), use coconut coir to help mitigate runoff into the stream, conduct a neighborhood stream clean-up, invite ESS to visit your neighborhood group and present effective “how to” information and training to get you started.
“PAY IT FORWARD, PLANT IT BACK” PROGRAM
Unfortunately, the current Sandy Springs Tree Ordinance is outdated and not effective at stopping nonessential clear-cutting and continued tree canopy loss. It needs to be updated now. The Atlanta Metro is currently losing 18,000 trees a year. We are rapidly losing our distinction as the one city in the U.S. with the most trees, “The City in a Forest”. In 2026 ESS is initiating this program to help with Canopy Loss Prevention, Preservation and Conservation of our trees. It will also help restore biodiversity in our community for generations to come.
Things citizens can do right in their yard or neighborhood right now:
The “Pay It Forward. Plant It Back” Program encourages and incentivizes private landowners that lose a tree or special plant to “Plant It Back” times 2. If you lose 1, plant back 2 native plants. ESS will provide private landowners with “How To” planting guides, native plant suggestions and resources, local professional installers if you so choose, and we will even hook you up with the City of Sandy Springs “Free Trees” program where you can get two free trees a year. Make sure you specify that you want a native tree! We encourage planting of mid story and understory native trees and can provide you with a list.