Chatham County highlights 3,492 acres of protected green space; Green Island management plan set

Chatham County staff presented a new public story map and overview of county conservation lands, saying the county manages roughly 3,492 acres of protected green space across preserves, parks and flood-mitigation sites.

Jackie Jackson, who led the presentation, noted Green Island sits off Skidaway Island and was purchased with help from a $3,000,000 grant from the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act; she said Green Island comprises about 500 acres and is being held for conservation value, habitat protection and coastal resilience. Deputy parks director Holly reviewed other properties—Whitmarsh Preserve, Albon G. Conservation Area (noted in the presentation as about 491 acres), Blue Sky Preserve (roughly 615 acres), Pennyworth Island (~167 acres) and Great Geechee Lakes (~300 acres)—and said the county will develop site-specific green-space management plans.

Staff said Kimberly Horn has begun a 12-month management-plan process for Green Island and other sites that will include desktop surveys, site visits, hydrology and soils assessments, stakeholder engagement and recommendations for appropriate public access or restrictions. Commissioners praised the acquisitions, asked how and when sites would be made available to the public, and staff said access will be decided in the master plans—some properties will remain restricted for preservation or flood mitigation while others may open for guided tours, permits or limited recreation.