Brookhaven replaces eroded park slopes with native Piedmont Prairies at Blackburn, Skyland

Patches of purple coneflower, tall grasses and native wildflowers are replacing eroded slopes at two Brookhaven parks as the city builds out small-scale grassland ecosystems modeled on habitats that once stretched across the Southeast.

The city's Arborist Division planted what it calls Piedmont Prairies at Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road, and at Skyland Park to address land erosion and topography problems, according to a city announcement published Aug. 20. The prairies feature roughly 30 native plant species chosen for their historical range, ecotype fit and wildlife value.

"The restorative benefits go well beyond what you can see," Arborist Division manager Jeff Dadisman said. "Healthy soils teem with beneficial microbes, improve water quality, mitigate stormwater runoff, and sequester carbon."

Dadisman called the program a complete win-win, noting the prairies are relatively inexpensive to establish and reduce conventional landscape maintenance costs. His crew conducts selective mowing and removes any species that begins to crowd out others on a weekly to biweekly schedule during spring, summer and fall.

What's growing

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is among the most prevalent species at Blackburn Park. The plant serves triple duty: it hosts larvae for three native butterfly species, provides nectar for bumblebees, Swallowtails, Monarchs, Fritillaries, moths and hummingbirds, and feeds American goldfinches, house finches and other songbirds with its seeds.

The division sources seed and live plants from growers in Georgia and North Carolina. Dadisman also propagates material in-house now, reducing the city's dependence on outside suppliers.

Broader habitat push

The prairies fit into Brookhaven's wider sustainability agenda. As of March 2026, the city held 294 of the 300 points needed for National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat certification, the city said in a post on X.

The Arborist Division and Parks Department have tentative plans to break ground on several more prairies within the next couple of years, though no specific sites or dates have been announced.

Get involved

Residents interested in starting a backyard prairie or learning more can email [email protected]. The city also maintains a Piedmont Prairies information page under its Sustainable Brookhaven framework.

Upcoming community dates

• Piedmont Prairies expansion: Additional sites planned by the Arborist Division and Parks Department; no groundbreaking date announced yet.
• Wildlife habitat certification: Brookhaven needs six more points for NWF Community Wildlife Habitat status. Residents can register their property at brookhavenga.gov to help the city qualify.