A Vision for Conservation, Recreation, and Community
Founded in 2012, the Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land (SE Trust) was established with a simple but powerful vision: to conserve natural lands and make them lasting assets for conservation, recreation, and community benefit.
Since its founding, SE Trust has acquired and activated more than 40 properties encompassing over 10,000 acres across Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Through public parks, nature preserves, and environmental stewardship projects, we protect valuable natural areas while expanding opportunities for people to connect with the outdoors.
Our properties provide scenic open space, walking trails, wildlife habitat, stormwater mitigation, and free public recreation. Many are already enjoyed by visitors seeking the quiet pleasures of nature, with additional amenities planned over time.
How It All Began
SE Trust grew from founder Bill Jones’s love of hiking with his dogs in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area near his home. As Georgia’s population grew and development threatened its natural landscapes, Bill recognized the need to protect large, scenic tracts of land and create more public parks.
After unsuccessful efforts to interest existing land trusts in his vision, Bill received guidance and encouragement from Hans Neuhauser, executive director of the Georgia Land Conservation Center. Together with a small group of like-minded friends, he established SE Trust, which was incorporated in 2012 and recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity.
Turning Opportunity into Conservation
SE Trust began its work during the aftermath of the Great Recession, when declining real estate values left developers and banks holding large tracts of land that were difficult to sell or maintain.
SE Trust saw an opportunity to turn these properties into lasting community assets by encouraging donations from banks and developers. Although these partnerships may have seemed unconventional for a conservation organization, they helped protect scenic lands with significant environmental and recreational value.
Every potential project is evaluated against SE Trust’s mission, goals, and selection criteria, with an emphasis on conservation value, public benefit, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Building an Organization for Lasting Impact
From the beginning, SE Trust aspired to do more than acquire land and build parks. It worked to become an effective, ethical, and well-managed conservation organization.
Bill and the board invested in education and professional development through the Georgia Land Conservation Center, the Land Trust Alliance, and the Land Trust Learning Center. These efforts helped shape the organization’s policies, procedures, and commitment to transparency, responsible stewardship, and high ethical standards.
In 2013, Bill stepped down from the board to become executive director. Under his leadership, SE Trust expanded its conservation efforts, strengthened partnerships with environmental organizations, engaged community members in stewardship, and developed educational programs and environmental projects. The organization also focused on implementing Land Trust Standards and Practices to support responsible, long-term land conservation.
Growing Our Impact
One of SE Trust’s earliest achievements was Talking Rock Nature Park in Pickens and Gilmer Counties, Georgia, which now welcomes nearly 20,000 visitors annually.
Today, SE Trust’s portfolio includes 14 publicly accessible parks and 22 preserves, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation while protecting wildlife habitat, scenic open space, and natural resources throughout the Southeast.
In May 2025, Keith Ray, previously SE Trust’s director of conservation, became executive director following Bill Jones’s departure at the end of 2024.
While leadership has changed, the vision remains the same: conserve land, expand long-term public access, and create lasting benefits for the communities we serve.
Looking Ahead
SE Trust is proud of its accomplishments and inspired by the opportunities ahead. We believe natural lands strengthen communities, improve quality of life, support wildlife, and connect people with the places they call home.
Our commitment remains rooted in conservation, recreation, and community—protecting meaningful places today so their benefits can endure for generations to come.
We conserve land for nature, for people, and for the future of the Southeast.