Park Pride announced this week that its Small Change Grants program has distributed more than $20,000 to support nine community‑led park improvement projects throughout Atlanta and DeKalb County. The grants, funded by an anonymous donor, are awarded to Friends of the Park groups that organize volunteers to care for local green spaces.

Projects receiving funding

Grant recipients include:

• Barker Bryant Memorial Park – invasive‑species removal and lawn restoration.
• Delano Line Park – a pilot goat‑grazing program designed to naturally control brush.
• Flat Shoals Park – native plantings and a volunteer‑built birdhouse.
• Glen Emerald Park – native species plantings aimed at erosion control and pollinator support.
• Historic Fourth Ward Park – hiring a professional arborist for canopy work.
• Orme Park – continued invasive‑removal and planting of more than 1,000 native plants.
• Red’s Farm Preserve – addition of tree‑identification signage and expanded educational programming.
• Vermont Park – drainage improvements, path restoration, natural erosion‑control materials and native plantings.
• Zonolite Park – removal of invasive plants and replacement with native species in partnership with the Georgia Native Plant Society.

Each project emphasizes volunteer involvement, environmental stewardship and the creation of healthier habitats for local wildlife.

atlFREEfair returns with free food, skill shares and community resources

Atlanta’s mutual‑aid festival, atlFREEfair, will be held on Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Friendship Center, 737 Woodland Ave. SE. The family‑friendly event offers free food, arts and crafts, a plant‑swap, clothes‑mending station, free haircuts, reiki sessions, live entertainment and a variety of skill‑sharing stations. Organizers say the fair is designed to bring neighbors together, encourage resource exchange and strengthen community ties. Admission is free; more details are available through the atlFREEfair website.

Atlanta Ballet welcomes new chief development officer

Atlanta Ballet has appointed Zachary Brown as chief development officer as the company prepares for its centennial celebration. Brown previously served as executive vice president of development at WABE, where he grew major‑gift revenue from roughly $600,000 to over $3 million in two years and launched the station’s first planned‑giving program, securing more than $1 million in commitments. In his new role, Brown will lead fundraising efforts and help ensure the ballet’s financial stability ahead of its 100th anniversary. Board of Trustees Chair Nancy Field praised Brown’s local relationships and experience, noting they will support the organization’s philanthropic growth and community engagement.

Gibbs Gardens welcomes monarch butterflies with fall wildflowers

Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground is celebrating the arrival of fall by blooming 15 acres of wildflowers that attract migrating monarch butterflies. Cosmos, zinnias and native milkweed now cover the garden’s Wildflower Meadow, providing nectar for adult monarchs and the only food source—milkweed—for monarch caterpillars. The garden began its pollinator‑focused transformation in 2021 and has expanded from three to 15 acres of butterfly‑friendly plantings. Visitors can enjoy the meadow during seasonal hours; the garden’s website offers current hours, admission information and a Bloom Calendar.

Spelman College Museum of Fine Art opens fall exhibition

The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art will host an opening reception on Oct. 2 for “Between Here and Infinity,” a fall exhibition featuring more than 80 works from the museum’s permanent collection. The show, which spans both museum galleries, opens its first portion on Sept. 9 in the Bank of America Gallery and the second portion on Oct. 1 in the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Academic Center. Curated around Black feminist imagination, the exhibition includes painting, sculpture, photography, film and installation, marking the museum’s 30th anniversary.

These stories highlight the vibrant civic life of the Atlanta region, from park stewardship and mutual‑aid festivals to cultural institutions preparing for milestone celebrations.

Original reporting: SaportaReport — read the source article.