Resolution Honors Martha Porter Hall

The South Fork Conservancy has honored board member Martha Porter Hall for her extraordinary leadership chairing the 2016 Creek Rising Committee. Under her guidance, the event raised more funds than ever before. The resolution follows:

RESOLUTION HONORING AND EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO

MARTHA PORTER HALL

WHEREAS, Martha Hall joined the Board of Directors of the South Fork Conservancy with a wealth of experience, knowledge, and a passion for the mission of the SFC; and

WHEREAS, The South Fork Conservancy relies on the “Creek Rising Party” as a major fund raising tool; and

WHEREAS, Martha Hall accepted the challenge of helming a project unlike any in her environmental, city planning, zoning, and public spaces organizer experience; and

WHEREAS, Martha Hall worked tirelessly with her husband Van and a small group of volunteers to lay the foundation for a successful enterprise; and

WHEREAS, Martha Hall successfully negotiated the obstacles associated with a major leadership transition; and

WHEREAS, Martha Hall was effective in attracting major corporate sponsors and individual donors; and

WHEREAS, Martha Hall, aided by her band of volunteers, was successful in influencing, the suppliers, the local businesses, the participants themselves, and even the weather; and

WHEREAS, The 2016 Creek Rising Party was the most successful fund raising event in the history of the South Fork Conservancy.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the South Fork Conservancy commends Martha Porter Hall for her unselfish and untiring dedication and service to the people of Atlanta and the mission of the South Fork Conservancy.

            Adopted this 16th day of June, 2016

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Visits Cheshire Farm Trail

Atlanta (May 2016) – The Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System, Cynthia Martinez, and other top U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) officials visited Cheshire Farm Trail in Buckhead on May 13. They reviewed the successes of the South Fork Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership and discussed future goals. There are only 17 such partnerships in the entire country; they are designed to boost opportunities for city residents to connect with nature and restore local environments.

Chief Martinez explained that preserving urban greenspace for wildlife is a key priority. "We’re working closely with neighbors and other partners, and today is an excellent on-the-ground example of exactly what that vision was,” Martinez said. “Thank you for what you’re doing. It's not only the community that’s going to benefit, but our nation as a whole."

South Fork board members and partners showed the extensive progress made in removing invasive species, engaging volunteers, planting native shrubs and trees,  and creating access to the trails. They also demonstrated the “Animal Olympics” activity, which features signs in English and Spanish teaching children about animals and encouraging them to emulate their poses. 

“Atlanta’s a fabulous town but one thing we can work on is more greenspace –particularly for the people in the cities who live a little more closely than people in the suburbs,” said South Fork board member and Founding Director Sally Sears. “We’ll build more public investment in connecting all these pieces and building a marvelous refuge for us, when we need sanctuary (and) for the animals, when they want to return to the urban setting where they used to thrive.”

South Fork’s partnership includes a USFWS Five Star grant for a project called “Who’s Home on the Confluence?” The project involves collecting and analyzing data on plant and animal populations and water quality at Peachtree Creek. It also includes building creek access and engaging underserved communities in monitoring and sustaining current restoration and green infrastructure efforts.

Regional USFWS representatives also attended, as well as many nonprofit friends and partners of South Fork. These included Greening Youth Foundation, Atlanta Audubon Society, Trees Atlanta, Georgia Aquarium, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Latin American Association.

About South Fork Conservancy

South Fork Conservancy is actively developing walking trails along Atlanta’s Peachtree Creek. Designated as an Urban Wildlife Refuge by The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the nonprofit organization is named for the South Fork of Peachtree Creek, where many of the trails are located. Its goal is to conserve the urban waterway, connect existing and future trails, and restore the area’s natural beauty. The trail system will eventually connect Buckhead, Atlanta’s upscale business and residential center, with the Emory University campus and beyond. Active trails include The Confluence, Cheshire Farm and Meadow Loop trails in Buckhead, and Zonolite Park in DeKalb County. For more information, visit www.SouthForkConservancy.org.

South Fork Conservancy Hits Fund-Raising Milestone

Atlanta (May 2, 2016) – South Fork Conservancy, a nonprofit group building and connecting trails along Peachtree Creek, has hit a milestone. Its annual “Creek Rising” fund-raiser, held at Zonolite Park in DeKalb County on April 28, raised more than $30,000. That’s twice as much as in the previous year. Atlanta broadcasting icon Monica Kaufman Pearson and her husband, former South Fork board member John Pearson, were the celebrity hosts. Refreshments included South Fork’s signature “Bogwater” cocktails. Activities included a demonstration of water quality testing, as well as tours of the wetland gardens, Peachtree Creek and its sandy banks.

“The vision of children playing in what was once a brownfield while groups of conscientious citizens planned further improvements along South Fork was truly inspiring and I can't wait to see what we do next,” said South Fork’s Executive Director Kimberly Estep. “Special thanks to Creek Rising Committee Chairs Martha Porter Hall and Van Hall, who made sure everything was perfect for our big night,” Estep said.

Organizations and individuals supporting the event, and their level of sponsorship include:

Title Sponsor: The FloatAway Zonolite Community

Bridge Builders: Cox Conserves; Kaiser Permanente; McCarty Property Group; Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP; and UPS

Confluencers: AMLI Piedmont Heights, CM2H, Perkins+Will, Sylvatica Studio and Hammersmith, Inc.

Creek Risers: Catalyst Development Partners, The Integral Group

Host Committee: Rutledge Forney, M.D.; Bob Kerr; George Ickes; Tony and Leisa Powers; and Sally Sears

Event Committee: Martha Porter Hall and Van Hall (co-chairs) and members Sally Bethea, Debra A. Edelson, David Eldridge,  Ivy Claire Eldridge, Celia Lismore, Larry Smith, Rich Sussman, Terri Thornton and Barbara Tucker

Board Members, in addition to those named above:  David Eldridge, Billy Hall, Liza Littrell, Chris Nelson and Ruthie Taylor Norton

In-Kind Donors: Black Sheep Ensemble, Murphy’s, Neighbors and Rocky’s

Many of those involved served in more than one capacity. We also thank our many volunteers!

About South Fork Conservancy

South Fork Conservancy is actively developing walking trails along Atlanta’s Peachtree Creek. Designated as an Urban Wildlife Refuge by The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the nonprofit organization is named for the South Fork of Peachtree Creek, where many of the trails are located. Its goal is to conserve the urban waterway, connect existing and future trails, and restore the area’s natural beauty. The trail system will eventually connect Buckhead, Atlanta’s upscale business and residential center, with the Emory University campus and beyond. Active trails include The Confluence, Cheshire Farm and Meadow Loop trails in Buckhead, and Zonolite Park in DeKalb County. For more information, visit www.SouthForkConservancy.org.