The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced the recipients of its Outdoor Stewardship Program grants totaling $24.6 million for 12 conservation and outdoor recreation projects across the state.
The Outdoor Stewardship Program was created in 2018 when Georgia voters approved a measure to dedicate sales tax on outdoor recreation equipment to conservation and parks projects. It is the state’s first dedicated funding source for the conservation of priority lands, stewardship of state wildlife management areas and support of local parks and trails.
This year’s round of grantees includes $1.9 million for the city of Chattahoochee Hills in south Fulton County to buy property along the Chattahoochee River to expand an existing park and increase access to fishing, boating, hiking and camping.
In Henry and Rockdale counties, DNR will use $1.8 million in grant money to expand Panola Mountain State Park.
Projects in other parts of the state include upgrades at Amicalola Falls State Park in North Georgia and improvements to the water trails at Stephen C. Foster State Park in the Okefenokee Swamp in South Georgia.
Out of the 12 projects that the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund Board of Trustees selected, five are by local governments and non-profit organizations for the acquisition, development or stewardship of local parks or trail systems, four are for the acquisition of conservation land by DNR and three are for stewardship projects on state lands.
“By supporting projects aimed at the acquisition, development, and stewardship of local parks, trail systems, and conservation areas, we are not only protecting the natural heritage but also enhancing the recreational opportunities for our communities,” said Walter Rabon, commissioner of the Georgia DNR and chairman of the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund Board of Trustees, in a March 27 press release. “This investment will ensure that Georgians can continue to enjoy and connect with the outdoors for generations to come.”
DNR also announced six grant projects through its Wildlife Viewing Program. The Georgia Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund is funding the grants, all capped at $5,000. Each project is designed to help enhance wildlife viewing options, specifically focusing on State Wildlife Action Plan species and habitats.
“We are thrilled to be able to support these conservation partners in these types of quality projects focused on high-priority species and habitats throughout the state,” said Matt Elliot, chief of DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section, in an April 1 press release.
The six recipients are:
- Albany’s Chehaw Park & Zoo ($5,000) to help develop public viewing aspects for a new “head start” and education program focused on state-rare gopher frogs.
- Manomet’s Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative ($4,935) to print and distribute beach-bird guides for use with steward programs as a way to help raise awareness of priority species.
- Georgia Conservancy ($4,500) for prescribed-fire field days in Tattnall, Taylor and Pulaski counties, which centers on landowners and bird watchers as part of a Burning for Birds Collaborative.
- Birds Georgia ($4,998) to refurbish and reopen the wildlife viewing tower near a historic dairy barn on part of DNR’s Altamaha Wildlife Management Area.
- Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department ($2,680) to create and install interpretive signage for chimney swift habitat conservation at swift nesting and roosting towers on city trails.
- Friends of McIntosh Reserve Park ($3,170) to provide spotting scopes, binoculars and related gear for wildlife viewing and education programs led by the group at the Carroll County park.
WABE’s Molly Samuel contributed to this report.
