Walking along the trails of Legacy Park, a mere mile from downtown Decatur, is akin to a full nature immersion. Sunlight glistens across the beaver-constructed wetlands as twigs crunch with every step, and a cascade of bird calls plays as if on surround sound. Fastidiously cleared by Trees Atlanta, there’s a sense of widening expanse that emphasizes the beauty unfurling in every direction. Allison Ericson is the lead steward of this land, serving as our city’s Urban Naturalist, and she supports every green space in Decatur alongside the other Public Works departments. This collaboration with the city’s grounds crew, arborist, zoning, Parks and Recreation, Legacy Decatur, and sanitation departments is vital to co-managing Legacy Park’s 22-acre conservation area. Her expert eye is evident when walking alongside her; she spots the tiniest changes in the terrain with a consistent curiosity that appears to light her up from within. “I love my job. I feel like it's a privilege to be a steward of these spaces. So I feel really fortunate,” she says. You can feel the utter care behind supporting our city’s natural spaces, which is evident in their thoughtful design and upkeep, carefully cultivated to support both wildlife and humanity.
Along those lines is Decatur’s newest designation: Bird City Decatur. Granted by The Bird City Network, a national organization, the moniker was awarded this past October, and we are the first city in all of Georgia to receive this distinction. A community member brought the application to Allison’s attention, and upon reviewing the qualifications, they realized Decatur already met the requirements. Being a “Bird City” entails multiple initiatives that support bird populations, thus enhancing the overall natural health of the area. It also provides our city with access to more grants, bestows national recognition on Decatur, and raises overall awareness of the importance of protecting our natural resources. Many organizations and city departments contribute to the efforts. Invasive plant removals are performed by Allison, Trees Atlanta, Woods Keeper, hired contractors, and volunteers from neighborhood groups through the Decatur Greenspace Alliance (an organization Allison started to provide them with native plants, tools such as shovels and gloves, lawn bags, and rocks to border pollinator gardens) The Intown Chapter of Georgia Native Plant Society and Beech Hollow Farms serve as an excellent resource for the city and community. Native and pollinator plants are continually planted to replace the removed invasive species, so even the smallest available green space is utilized, working to beautify our city while supporting the overall ecosystem. This creates and restores habitats for birds and other wildlife, a key initiative to promote ecological health.
Increasing awareness is an integral part of their mission, which educates our residents through free guided hikes led by Birds Georgia, as well as signage detailing bird identifiers, the impact of domestic cats on the bird population, and details on the wetlands. Over 181 species of birds have been identified at Legacy Park alone. Our city works to minimize light pollution, window strikes, and pesticide use, while the implementation of dark sky lighting further reduces threats to bird populations and helps encourage migration rates. Project Safe Flight Decatur monitors buildings during the spring and fall migration periods to assist any birds who experience collisions. The Atlanta chapter of the Georgia Native Plants Society is a vital contributor, and Wild Nest bird rehabilitation serves hundreds of birds every year (on top of their spectacular education efforts). The passion, collaboration, and joint mission of the contributors feel infectious. Vicki Mendez of Trees Atlanta comes across our path while working to clear brush along the wetlands path to heighten visibility. “We planted all fruiting species this year that produce nuts to support the wildlife. I wanted to go with the theme of the bird hub,” Vicki explains. These symbiotic partnerships work towards each organization’s individual missions while supporting properties that would be overgrown and in ill health without such efforts.
Allison exudes a grounded serenity, a seeming result of her years communing with nature, and her passion for the power found in preserving our green spaces is galvanizing. Growing up in Kennesaw, she spent much of her childhood outside, roaming the woods and the nearby creek in her backyard. She cites a specific memory of nature bringing her solace: in high school, her boyfriend broke up with her right before a big dance, and she was experiencing her first heartbreak. She sat on the bridge overlooking the creek when her father came and sat beside her, talking her through her feelings, and she found great relief. In college, she was pre-med, but after her father’s death and spending so much time in hospitals, she switched to environmental studies. Allison then spent over 20 years in the field, most recently at the Wylde Center, and her current role as Urban Naturalist is unique. She focuses on utilizing Decatur’s urban green spaces (close to 200 acres in total) to benefit the community - whether it's taking a walk, reflecting on a bench, or gathering with neighbors. Nature serves as a space to find peace, an experience that Allison strives to provide all across Decatur. Where she isn’t directly providing it, she supports the efforts of others, and she especially spotlights the volunteer neighborhood groups doing beautiful work. Anyone interested in bringing more beauty and health to their local green spaces can reach out to her for supplies and funding for neighborhood beautification projects. There’s money and support out there for those dedicated to preserving and enjoying their immediate environment. Furthermore, Allison and her team are always looking for passionate naturalists interested in volunteering to lead hikes or share their own nature-based expertise.
One volunteer, Tony Abel (a retiree from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s watershed module), started the beaver dam hikes, which guide attendees along a stunning trail around the wetlands, wherein you can see the meticulous construction work their resident beavers have put into five dams. These monthly hikes have brought in over 400 total participants thus far, and teach attendees how beavers create healthier ecosystems by infilling streams and creating wetlands. After Hurricane Helene, the water in the main wetland was noticeably reduced, but as the beavers have reworked their dams, the wetlands are now fully back to their pre-hurricane levels. This provides food, habitat, and landing space for birds, amphibians, and turtles. The wetlands’ water is spring-fed, thus completely clean. Nature is called a wonder for a reason, and it’s an honor to commune with wildlife in any green space you can. It feels like another world in Legacy Park, even though it’s right off Columbia Drive. The hikes are completely free and capped at twenty-five people for safety and enjoyment purposes. All you have to do is register online, and then bask in nature’s majesty.
These spaces are endlessly worth protecting and preserving; the evidence is clear in the already robust volunteer community. From the Decatur Greenspace Alliance, which supports neighborhood volunteers, to corporate volunteer groups at Legacy Decatur and youth work groups through the National 4H program, Allison points out the areas that dozens of people have recently tended to, clearing brush and laying stonework with care. The Wylde Center contributed over 1,100 volunteer hours in this year alone. Trees Atlanta manages thousands of volunteers and has been contributing to the city’s efforts at Legacy Park for over 5 years. These efforts support our bird populations as well as migratory birds, other wildlife ecosystems, and our own environmental wellness. You can witness the marks of their hard work while walking along the trails. English ivy cleared here, freshly planted native plants there, and budding wildlife all around. Community engagement is key to these efforts, and it is inspiring and galvanizing to see the amazing impact residents have already poured into our city’s green spaces. The wetlands are now home to freshwater clams, mussels, and crawfish. When asked about her favorite discovery thus far, Allison shares, “I found a little musk turtle - that was an exciting one. It's something that in my 20-plus years of environmental education I had never found, so that was really exciting.”
Nature has benefits for us all, especially children. In reference to Richard Louv’s book, Last Child in the Woods, Allison cites how, in addition to the mental health benefits for children that nature instills, it also is proven to improve “educational retention when learning about natural topics outdoors.” Deepening education initiatives is one of Allison’s visions for our city, and with her illustrious background at nature centers, she would love to see one created at Legacy Park. In the more immediate future, Decatur will host the Migratory Bird Day festival on May 9th at 9:00 am, which will feature “a nature walk to explore the birding hotspot, activities, and bird-focused story time”. An exciting new development is the city’s purchase of an all-terrain wheelchair, enabling everyone to access the beautiful trails in our area. Accessibility is at the core of our city’s green space initiatives. By providing care for natural areas free to the public, our community’s well-being is enhanced, and Decatur’s mission to provide a high quality of life for residents is met. There are myriad opportunities for us to commit ourselves to our own neighborhoods’ ecosystem and come together for beautification and ecological well-being. Money and supplies are out there; one simply needs to gather a group, set a mission, and get to work. “Finding solace and calmness in these little neighborhood parks is something I think we all need,” Allison shares. It’s endlessly rewarding, and if the passion I’ve witnessed from those who do this for a living is any indication, it’s an absolute life-enhancer.
Nature is called a wonder for a reason, and it’s an honor to commune with wildlife in any green space you can.
“Finding solace and calmness in these little neighborhood parks is something I think we all need.”