The MillionMile Greenway was recently featured on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Sustainable series about our efforts to preserve land across Georgia. Listen to Jim Langford’s interview here!
ATLANTA (January 9, 2009) – The MillionMile Greenway (MMG), a nonprofit dedicated to conserving greenspace, providing public recreation space and connecting existing greenspace, will officially launch to the public on Jan. 14 with a party at 1010 Midtown.
Founded in 2007 to help private citizens, nonprofit groups and government planning offices conserve greenspace, MMG provides tools and consulting services toward creating and maintaining greenspace in local communities. In addition, MMG is working to connect communities’ greenspace throughout Georgia and the United States.
To facilitate the connection of local greenspace, MMG has established partnerships with a number of regional conservation organizations within the past year. Among the MMG affiliates is the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC).
MMG founder Jim Langford says ATC will be an important partner in the collaborative effort to achieve one million miles of connected greenspace. “The Appalachian Trail is one of the best examples in the nation of conserving and connecting greenspace for public enjoyment despite extraordinary population growth,” said Langford. “The ATC’s more than 2,000 miles of trail will be a crucial link to connecting surrounding greenspace throughout the eastern United States.”
ATC Executive Director David Startzell noted the benefits of the partnership for the Appalachian Trail and the people who enjoy it. “Partnering with the MillionMile Greenway will allow us to better connect with local communities, expanding a network of interconnected greenspace that provides critical ecological services across the Appalachian highland region. The AT is a 280,000-acre greenway that serves as a major artery for other connected greenways along our path. Through our new alliance, ATC and MMG can provide improved services related to recreation and natural resource protection in many trail-side communities,” Startzell said.
In addition to ATC, other MMG affiliates include: Coastal Georgia Greenway, Inc.; The Atlanta Beltline Partnership; Friends of Mountains to Sea Trail; Georgia Pinhoti Trail Association, Inc.; Mountain Conservation Trust of Georgia; Madison Greenway and Trails; Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center; Northern Virginia/Spotsylvania County/East Coast Greenway Alliance; PATH Foundation; Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation; and Yahoola Creek Trails Conservancy.
Current board and committee members will be available at the launch party to discuss volunteer, membership and grant opportunities. The launch event at 1010 Midtown (Peachtree St. and 12th) from 6-8 p.m. is open to all members of MMG and the public. Visit www.millionmilegreenway.org to join or for more information.
ABOUT MILLIONMILE GREENWAY
The MillionMile Greenway is an organization and a system of connected greenways across metro Atlanta, the state of Georgia, the southeastern United States and beyond. MMG is intended to be an empowering organization that helps local individuals and communities begin or expand their efforts at conservation and recreation. MMG works to build local constituencies, programs and agendas that will benefit all conservation and recreation organizations in Georgia and beyond.