Three knocks sounded at the front door. My mother opened it to one of the many neighborhood kids who, more often than not, did not immediately yield to the cars driving through our complex.
“Can Ashley come outside and play?”
The answer was determined by a simple measure: had I done my homework? The ability to go outside and play meant a break in an otherwise standard day: school, an extracurricular activity, homework, Nintendo 64, eat, sleep, repeat. But the best part of the day came when my mom said, yes, I could go outside.
Five bicycle injuries, skinned elbows, two lost foot races and countless arguments over who would be the Pink Power Ranger later, one constant remained – my love for the outdoors. Certainly, my routine at age 29 is much different. Wake up, check emails, check Instagram, meetings, check Snapchat, FaceTime, eat, work out, check emails, check Instagram again, sleep, repeat. The days of going outside to play are now overwhelmed by traffic jams and missed calls. Not exactly the play I remember and miss.
I’m sure I am not the only one to miss being asked to come outside. Atlanta and the surrounding areas have grown into fabulous urban communities that are home to 5.7 million residents 25 percent of whom are millennials. Although many in my generation have come to love the convenience of living in a major city, we are void of the opportunity to dwell in an area that hosts both our curiosity and innate need to connect with nature.
Most major metropolitan cities have a minimum of 10 percent of land mass used as greenspace; metro Atlanta is around 5 percent. While we may run at Piedmont Park or ride our bikes along the Silver Comet Trail, we still need to play. I’ll let you in on a little secret: nestled away less than 30 minutes from Atlanta west on I-20, hides a community that takes you back to the real outdoors.
Douglas County boasts over 5,000 acres of recreational space with an abundance of natural amenities. For example, Sweetwater Park is comprised of wooded hiking trails, a 215-acre reservoir, playgrounds, ruins of the historic New Manchester Manufacturing Co., picnic shelters with camping and yurt sites and 400-plus acres on the Chattahoochee River planned for trails and kayaking launch sites. For almost 150 years, Douglas County has maintained its charm while preserving its resources. With millennials looking for a way to reconnect, and families growing up surrounded by concrete, Douglas County is an answer within reach. By leveraging its assets alongside the region’s growth, the county is prime real estate for scenic selfies and entertaining Snapchats.
Opportunity comes from seeing a need and providing a solution, and the growth of our region is a perfect reason to position Douglas County as metro Atlanta’s outdoor recreation hub. We can reacquaint our families with the outdoors and find our younger selves. And that discovery is enough to tweet about.
If you ever catch me in Douglas County … I’ll be the Pink Power Ranger.
About the Author
