Lost Corner Preserve

Lost Corner Preserve

photo courtesy of the Sandy Springs Reporter newspaper

Update
Recommendations to City Council
The 12-member citizen advisory committee was appointed in February 2010 to make recommendations on the 22-acre park, Lost Corner.  The group has been looking at possible uses for the park which comply with the deed restrictions on the property.  The land’s donor wanted it to be a passive park and nature preserve.

In March, the City contracted with the land planning firm MacFarland-Dyer to survey the topography, all built structures, and trees.  They were asked to stake a walking trail.

Advisory committee members inspect the proposed walking trail.

Advisory committee members at Lost Corner.

The committee is finishing its research on similar parks.  Recommendations may include walking and bicycle trails, a community garden, picnic areas and a natural play area for children. The committee will make its recommendations to the City Council at the August 3 City Council meeting.

The City has budgeted about $300,000 in the past two fiscal years for improvements to Lost Corner.  The Sandy Springs Conservancy has secured a private grant for $26,000 to be used for land improvements, such as constructing a walking trail.

Background
Thanks to a private land owner, Sandy Springs now has a new, 22 acre park. One of the last undeveloped tracts of land in the City, the property sits at the corner of Brandon Mill Road and Riverside Drive, known as "Lost Corner" by the Miles family, who moved into the area in the 1930s.

Margaret "Peggy" Miles lived on the property all her life. For several years before her death in September 2008, she sought a means to permanently preserve her land as she herself enjoyed it - as a passive park and nature preserve. After discussions with family, friends, and neighbors, she approached the Sandy Springs Conservancy for assistance.

The Sandy Springs Conservancy brought key participants to the table to help fulfill Ms. Miles’ wishes. SSC immediately contacted The Trust for Public Land, with more than 30 years experience in preserving land for public use. TPL structured the legal agreement and together with SSC developed a fundraising plan to purchase the property for under $900,000.

The City of Sandy Springs generously funded half the purchase price, and the Georgia Land Conservation Program provided a grant of $250,000. TPL and SSC raised the remaining $167,000 from private donors.

The park officially became a city park in October, 2008, just after Peggy’s death at age 87. The City will develop the park in accordance with Ms. Miles’ wishes and the conservation requirements of the deed. The park will likely include walking and hiking trails, picnic areas, gardens, and a small nature center in the family’s Craftsman style bungalow.

Peggy Miles’ spirit will live on at Lost Corner Preserve. It will be a place of respite and enjoyment for all of us, just as it was for Peggy and her family.

We hope Lost Corner will inspire other property owners to consider preserving their property with conservation easements. If you have an interest in conserving land for private or public use, please see the Conservation page on our website for more information.

See more information about the project. read more