Tapestry Greenspace Conservation Easement

SE Trust is proud to own the conservation easement for Tapestry Greenspace in Fulton County, Georgia. TSE Trust will perpetually protect and conserve the 7-acre historic “hidden gem” greenspace from future development and other risks while maintaining the space for neighbors to enjoy in the Ormewood Park community.

In 1986 the Mansour Farm, 18 kudzu covered acres fronting E. Confederate (Now United Ave.) and Walker Avenues in Atlanta, was purchased by FCS Urban Ministries for the purpose of building an intentional, mixed income development that embraces diversity. It was subdivided into 30 lots with smaller, volunteer-built homes being interspersed among modest and larger houses. Tapestry Community was formed as a neighborhood block association that holds ownership to the 7 acres of common passive green space behind the houses. There are 2 playgrounds with sand, slides and swings, and a Tapestry community garden. A shuffleboard court, tree house, wood benches and a woodland path were added in 2012. In 2008, Tapestry planted 120 trees on the community property after the City of Atlanta’s storm water sewer separation project was completed and another 25 native trees in 2010 and 41 native trees in 2012.

In addition, other Tapestry successes have included:

• In 2013-14 Tapestry received a grant through the 5 Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program and with the help of Trees Atlanta, Atlanta Audubon Society, City of Atlanta Adopt a Stream, City of Atlanta Dept. of Watershed Management, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Fulton County Master Gardeners, Cascade Springs, and Elements Landscape Architect, continued the stream bank restoration project, built bluebird and owl boxes and offered educational opportunities to elementary and middle school students.
• Tapestry received a Love Your Block grant in May 2015 from the Atlanta Community Foundation. With this funding, Tapestry Community volunteers and Trees Atlanta summer campers, planted alders as winter food source for beavers, American beautyberries for native birds and 3 varieties of milkweed for butterflies.
• Since 2010, Tapestry has partnered with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to provide an acre of land for the ACFB’s community garden projects at no charge. The 5 plots are interspersed on the community property. These garden projects benefit the following: Georgia WIC Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program, horticultural therapy for adults and children and ACFB volunteer groups as educational opportunities.
• Entrenchment Creek and Stockade Creek (wetlands area) run through the community property. Tapestry volunteers conduct monthly chemical and biological water monitoring of Entrenchment Creek through the Georgia Adopt A Stream Program.

“Tapestry Greenspace is a magnet drawing our neighbors out of their homes and into nature,” said Lou Clymore, Tapestry Greenspace neighbor. “Tapestry is important to me personally because it is an outlet for my latent desire to be a naturalist. I have studied and learned tree and shrub identification, birding and I’m grateful our spaces are welcoming to all in the neighborhood.”

“We are honored to partner with the Tapestry community to conserve this historic nature preserve in the heart of the city,” said Bill Jones, founder, SE Trust. “This project has been a labor of love for the homeowners and the entire Atlanta environmental community. We look forward to preserving this greenspace for generations to come.”