Georgia Greenspace Program Description February 7, 2003 The Georgia General Assembly created the Georgia Greenspace Program during the 2000 legislative session by enacting Senate Bill 399 (codified as Official Code of Georgia Annotated Sec. 36-22-1 et seq.). The statute assigns responsibility for program administration to the Department of Natural Resources (Department) and creates a five-member Georgia Greenspace Commission (Commission), which reviews and approves community greenspace programs submitted by eligible counties. The statute defines "greenspace" as permanently protected land and water, including agricultural and forestry land, that is in its undeveloped, natural state or that has been developed only to the extent consistent with, or is restored to be consistent with, one or more listed goals for natural resource protection or informal recreation. The statute also creates a Georgia Greenspace Trust Fund (Fund), which is funded annually by the Georgia General Assembly. Such funds are granted to each participating local government with an approved community greenspace program and which has established a Community Greenspace Trust Fund as specified by the statute. Greenspace grant funds are provided to assist local governments in carrying out their strategies for acquiring and permanently protecting land. The Department is authorized by the statute to administer the Fund, prepare an annual report on the accounting of the funds received and expended, and make the report available to the Commission, the General Assembly, and members of the public For a county to be eligible to qualify for a greenspace grant it must have a population of at least 60,000 or an average annual growth rate of 800 people. To qualify for greenspace grant funds, after receiving notice of eligibility, a county must notify the Commission of its intent to establish a community greenspace program, hold at least one public meeting, and submit its application no later than November 30 of that year. The Department will transfer grant funds only after the Commission determines that a county's community greenspace program fully complies with all statute and rules requirements and that it will further the statutory purpose of setting aside at least 20 percent of the county's jurisdiction as open and connected greenspace. The statute promotes the voluntary adoption, by such counties and cities, of policies and rules, which enables them to preserve at least 20 percent of the county's land area as connected and open greenspace which can be used for informal recreation and natural resource protection. The permanent protection of such lands enhances a community's quality of life and its economic competitiveness and, therefore; should be considered as part of the necessary infrastructure for a community's development, as are roads, water supply, and sewage. As such, the program provides a mechanism for local governments to incorporate greenspace into their long-term planning for development. Therefore, planning for a local greenspace program is unique to the needs of that community.     Back to the top

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