The Fulton County commission's decision to sell park land in one of the Southeast's wealthiest counties could set a precedent that would have far-reaching consequences for other government entities looking for solutions to a financial crisis.
"In the latest salvo in the battle between Fulton County and the breakaway city of Sandy Springs, the County Commission voted Wednesday to sell six parks in the new city on the open market.
Commissioners said Sandy Springs was welcome to compete with other would-be buyers for the land, valued by the county at $27.6 million.
Although there were immediate questions about how â€" or whether â€" the land could be sold for development, the vote created at least a possibility that Sandy Springs could lose precious parkland.
'It's tragic,' said Matt Post, a Sandy Springs native who played in Hammond Park as a child. 'They are penalizing Sandy Springs for its own incorporation. Not only will the place I love and cherish be destroyed, but it won't be a place I can share with my daughters.'
The 14-acre Hammond Park, located on Glenridge Drive, is one of six parks totaling 47 acres. The sites could be transformed into anything from public green space to high-rise office towers."
Thanks to Dan Magee
FULL STORY: 6 parks in Sandy Springs for sale

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie