Sandy Springs, a relatively new town in Georgia, US, is celebrating its 20^th anniversary in 2025. As a suburban city in the Atlanta metro area with a public-private partnership model for government, Sandy Springs has inspired many other new cities that not only house people, but also bring the community together. Read on for an interview with the city’s mayor.

The Atlanta metro area in the state of Georgia, US, is growing rapidly, necessitating new cities and space for growth. In 2005, Sandy Springs was incorporated, a new suburban city that has already grown by more than 25 percent since 2000. A high concentration of Fortune 500 company headquarters, as well as plenty of parks and outdoor spaces and easy access to Atlanta with MARTA rail make the city attractive for many. Today, Sandy Springs is a thriving city, the sixth largest in Georgia, with over 100,000 inhabitants.

From vehicular traffic to walking trails

Home to Mercedes-Benz, UPS, Newell Brands, and Inspire, Sandy Springs offers countless employment opportunities. But the city also has an attractive riverfront along the Chattahoochee River, which attracts kayakers, fishermen, wildlife enthusiasts, and hikers. In 2024, the first section of the Springway trail for pedestrians and cyclists opened, which will eventually be 30 miles (48 kilometres) long, running through the city and connecting the parks and rivers to the central business district.

Sandy Springs is an interesting case study for successful suburban development, something that has historically been a challenge in the US. By creating pockets of activity along the Springway trail and throughout the city, Sandy Springs is achieving a mixed-used environment with many “micro destinations”.

Like many cities that sit on the edge of a large urban hub such as Atlanta, Sandy Springs was originally developed for vehicular travel. Major connectors cross the city, which means that sidewalks and bicycle infrastructure were scarce, as was connectivity within the community. The new trails in the city address this challenge, while also alleviating traffic and providing opportunities for economic development alongside the trail.

Mixed-use developments

According to the mayor, Rusty Paul, City Springs is key to this success. This community-centric downtown area opened in 2018 and is home to restaurants, apartments, a Performing Arts Center, and City Hall. Its large greenspace hosts weekly community events and festivals like farmer’s markets, concerts and social hours. Over the next few years, City Springs will grow to include even more green space, a hotel, more restaurants, retail, and additional residential units as well as office spaces.

“City Springs has transformed our community. Where there was none, it created a dynamic downtown and gathering space which strengthened the connective tissue of our city. Building on its success, we now plan to enhance the area with a mixed-use development”, mayor Rusty Paul explains.

Bringing the community together

Sandy Springs’ roots date back to the 1800s when the settlement was founded as a watering stop for Native Americans who frequented the bubbling springs. Settlers moved into the area. Efforts to incorporate it into a city began in 1966, residents, led by Eva Galambos, worked for 40 years to obtain their own government. In June 2005, 94 percent of residents voted for incorporation and for Galambos as the city’s first mayor.

Before this landmark, residents relied upon a traditional county government for the provision of services, which was often not adequate and led to the desire for a streamlined government that could be more responsive to community desires. The non-traditional approach of operating as a public-private partnership (PPP), has contributed to the city’s success: Almost half of city staff are employed by a private company.

When asked what makes Sandy Springs special and how it was possible to bring the community together, mayor Rusty Paul speaks about people: “By far, Sandy Springs’ residents are the most special aspect of our community. The pride they feel for our city and the effort they expound to make Sandy Springs one of the best places to live and work is palpable.”

Attracting a generation of strollers

Next, Sandy Springs is looking to become more sustainable and energy efficient. One of the strategies that city management is currently exploring to that end is artificial intelligence (AI). The idea is to integrate AI into management systems and then make the city’s administration more efficient and streamlined.

“Another area of opportunity is within our unique urban forest, a defining feature of our community. Sandy Springs is home to more than 20 parks and 22 miles of trails along the Chattahoochee River. We are also home to John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Forest Preserve which is the only registered and listed “Old Growth Forest Site” in the county. It’s home to the largest and most unique trees in the City”, mayor Rusty explains.

Last year, Sandy Springs’ city council approved a new usage policy for the Tree Fund, allowing for more than large tree canopy planting and focusing on maintenance. Together with students and volunteers, an environmental stewardship programme that focuses on native biodiversity, wildlife observation, and ecological restoration is underway.

The mayor is hoping to attract the “stroller generation”, new residents and businesses that are invested in the community and enjoy the trails around Sandy Springs. With its high quality of life and the focus on mixed-use, community-oriented development, things are looking good for the city.

Sandy Springs might not yet qualify as a 15-minute city, but it is definitely on the way. Learn more about applying this concept in the US here.