This walk is now full with a waitlist.

Tucked away in the Collier Heights neighborhood, in the northeast corner of I-20 and I-285W is a small, beautiful park named for Jennie Drake, a resident of Collier Heights since 1965.  In 2003, Jennie Drake learned of plans for a housing development on the beautiful neighborhood woodland she felt was better suited for a park. Her efforts led to the Atlanta City Council voting to purchase the property, dedicated as a passive park, in 2011.

Originally on the outskirts of Atlanta, this park highlights the type of forest that makes Atlanta’s urban canopy in many older neighborhoods so special–it holds remaining pieces of the old-growth forest of our region, with older less disturbed soils capable of harboring the myriad species needed to sustain a healthy native forest. Steep slopes and a narrow stream corridor, areas considered “un-farmable” and “unbuildable” until recently, likely protected this area early on, then owner Jennie Drake protected the landscape permanently by deeding the land to the City as a dedicated park. 

Jennie Drake Park hosts a high diversity of trees and wildflowers, including uncommon and sensitive species such as Umbrella Magnolia, Wild Geranium, and Blood Root. Our timing should be ideal for seeing some of the high value species found here. And at this time of year we may also hear some of our migratory songbirds just coming back from winter homes in Central and South America, some of whom may nest in this forest in the summer season.

We’ll walk on natural and unpaved trails, fairly flat terrain with small hills, about a mile at most.

This walk is offered in partnership with Friends of Jennie Drake Park.

 To register (RSVP) click HERE – details and directions sent to registered participants. 

A donation of $15 or more helps support our programs.

Note: Due to Covid 19 precautions, we are limiting walks to 10 people and practicing social distancing protocols. 

Photos: (Top) New spring growth in native forest at Jennie Drake Park, photo © Kathryn Kolb; (bottom) Wild Geranium photo © Kathryn Kolb