About OLPA
The root of all my good work is an early respect for regard and enjoyment of scenery... and extraordinary opportunities for cultivating susceptibility to the power of scenery.
Frederick Law Olmsted 1883
We are Olmsted Linear Park Alliance.
Olmsted Linear Park is a 45-acre greenspace and old-growth forest that meanders along Ponce de Leon Avenue from the intersection of Briarcliff Road and Moreland Avenue to the east end of N. Ponce de Leon Avenue near Decatur.
The Druid Hills neighborhood and the park were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in the late 1890’s. The park consists of six picturesque segments that is home to a lush tree canopy and vibrant wildlife habitat.
The Olmsted Linear Park Alliance is the 501c3 charitable nonprofit organization that oversees the management and preservation of the park.
Explore. Inspire. Engage. Give.
Preserving an Atlanta Treasure
OLPA’s restoration efforts of all six park segments includes the addition of nearly 6,000 linear feet of paths and the installation of 2,600 new trees and shrubs. The most expensive aspect of the restoration was the burial of utility lines. Approximately 11 miles of conduit and cable lie beneath the period lampposts that ring the park.
OUR BACKBONE
Leadership
OLPA is governed by an elected Board of Directors. These directors are representatives from the Druid Hills community, surrounding neighborhoods and the Neighborhood Planning Unit N. Ex-officio members include City of Atlanta Council Member from District 6, DeKalb County Commissioner of DeKalb County District 2, City of Atlanta and DeKalb County Commissioners of Park and Recreation Departments and the President & CEO of Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Day-to-day operations are managed by the Executive Director.
OFFICERS
Justin Critz
President
Sarah Catherine Tunkle
Vice President
Danette Van Trump
Secretary
Niel Dawson
Treasurer
Sandra Kruger
Executive Director
GENERAL DIRECTORS
Sally Cohen
Venadar LLC
Miriam Gutman
Southern Poverty Law Center
Jacob Hunt-Martin
Rollins Support Center
Dr. Christopher Keir
Carrie Lassiter
Public Health Professional
Scott Storbeck
Community Volunteer
Claudia Saari
DeKalb County Circuit Public Defender
Spencer Tunnell
Tunnell & Tunnell Landscape Architecture
PAST PRESIDENT
Amy Howell
APPOINTED/EX OFFICIO DIRECTORS
Justin Cutler
Commissioner, Department of Parks
Carol Holliday
NPU-N
Mike Murphey
Druid Hills Civic Association
Alex Wan
Council Member, City of Atlanta
Paige Singer
Interim Director, DeKalb County Recreation
Michelle Spears
Commissioner, Dekalb County
Jennifer Grant Warner
President & CEO, Fernbank
Liliana Bakhtiari
COA Council Member District 5
ADVISORY/HONORARY DIRECTORS
Toby Brooks
Becky Evans
Jenny Fletcher
Beth Grashof
Carolyn Hall
William “Billy” Hall
Dick Henneman
Lynn Kerpel
EMERITUS DIRECTOR
Bob Kerr
Stacey Key
Weslee Knapp
Dave McCauley
Aneli Nugteren
Elena Parent
Julie Ralston
Jeannie Richardson
PRESIDENT EMERITA
Natalie Rogovin
Sally Sears
Gloria Seymour
Kevin Steward
Gale Walldorf
Jim Waits
Janice Whitener
George Ickes
Tally Sweat