Statement from George Dusenbury, Vice President, Southern Region, Trust for Public Land, on Lake Lanier Park Closures in Georgia

“At Trust for Public Land, we’re relieved that nine Lake Lanier parks initially slated for closure will remain open—but we remain deeply concerned about the 11 parks that are still closed indefinitely due to federal staffing shortages. 

These parks are more than recreation spots—they are essential infrastructure for Georgia’s families, communities, and economy. Lake Lanier alone welcomes over 10 million visitors annually. It’s one of the most popular federally managed lakes in the country and a critical public asset for North Georgia.

When parks close, people lose access to nature, local economies lose revenue, and surrounding sites face unsafe overcrowding. We’re already hearing from Georgians—boaters, families, and visitors—who are being turned away from places they’ve cherished for generations. 

Georgia’s outdoor recreation economy contributes over $27 billion each year and supports more than 238,000 jobs. That success depends on keeping parks open, safe, and adequately staffed. We urge the President and Congress to address the root causes of these closures and invest in the people and programs that keep public lands running. 

Georgia needs access to the outdoors—not just on holidays, but every day of the year.” 

About Trust for Public Land    

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, and raised $110 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.