KIRKWOOD URBAN FOREST PRESERVE
Kirkwood Urban Forest (KUF) Preserve is not a park — it’s a protected urban woodland, born from a bold vision to safeguard Atlanta’s green spaces before they vanished under mounting development pressure. Between 2004 and 2006, the Georgia Forestry Commission and the City of Atlanta Department of Parks joined forces to preserve forested parcels that were at risk of being lost forever.
Through a creative patchwork of landlocked lots, subdivided residential tracts, and protected stream buffers, KUF began to take shape. Since then, it has grown organically—thanks to additional land acquisitions, generous donations, and the transformation of unused rights-of-way into thriving green space.
Stewardship Principles
KUF is guided by a deep respect for ecological integrity. Core practices include:
-
No impervious installations — We keep the forest floor natural and permeable
-
No roads or parking lots — This is a pedestrian sanctuary
-
Only native, non-invasive plantings — We nurture what belongs here
-
On-site composting and reuse — Nothing green goes to waste
-
Minimal herbicide use — Only when necessary to combat invasive species from neighboring properties
-
Zero pesticide use — We protect pollinators and preserve biodiversity
KUF is a living example of what’s possible when communities come together to protect nature in the heart of the city. Join us in keeping this forest wild, resilient, and thriving.
Amenities
-
Community garden
-
Network of walking trails
-
Picnic shelter
-
Sandbox
-
Spring fed stream
-
Pedestrian bridge and focus
-
Approximately 300 hardwood trees augmented by hundreds of native non- invasive plantings. Many are flowering and fruit or berry producing species.
KUF Preserve Metrics
Acreage | 8+ acres
Address | 1807 Dixie Street SE, 30317
Lands
Dearborn Parcel 48,900 sq. ft.
Core Forest 158,361 sq. ft.
Dixie Parcel 51,987 sq. ft.
Rogers Parcel 7,966 sq. ft.
Total 267,214 sq. ft. or 6.14 acres
Associated Rights of Way
Bixby Street - 31,905 sq. ft.
Dixie Street - 25,971 sq. ft.
Dearborn Street - 3,952 sq.
Rogers Street SE - 4,153 sq. ft.
Total 65,981 sq. ft. or 1.52 acres
Trails (included in above totals)
Dixie - 486 feet (entrance to bottom of hill)
Flood Plain - 659 feet
Bixby - 562 feet (entrance to bottom of hill)
Rogers - 123 feet (end of Rogers Street to floodplain trail)
Total - 1830 linear feet - 7320 sq. ft. (based on standard 48" trail width)
Hardee Creek
Total Length 1.3 miles (from spring origin to Sugar Creek)
KUF Park Segment 526' Flows consistently at 4-8” depth even during severe droughts.
Plateau (Included in Park Lands Totals)
27,255 square feet GIS estimated. Does not include area of rubble down slope. Required 850+ cubic yards of wood chips to cover to a depth of 6-8”.
Need more info? Please visit Friends of Kirkwood Urban Forest
or email kuf@historickirkwood.org