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Join Ranger Hannah Palmer of the Department of Urban Springs and Trees Atlanta’s Chris Hrubesh for a one-of-a-kind ramble through downtown in search of the waters that shaped the city—and the trees helping to restore it. We’ll begin on Decatur Street, across the street from Walter’s, and make our way across the sub-continental divide. We’ll look for water at the urban headwaters of Intrenchment Creek, Proctor Creek, Clear Creek, and Tanyard Creek—many now buried, but still flowing beneath our feet.

As we follow these invisible waterways, we’ll also explore how trees are returning to downtown as essential partners in this story. Through Trees Atlanta’s Downtown Tree Planting Program, one of the city’s most paved and heat-impacted areas is being reimagined with shade, soil, and living infrastructure. These new plantings aren’t just beautification—they help absorb stormwater, cool the streets, and reconnect the city to its natural hydrology.

The Department of Urban Springs—a (fictional) state-level agency established in 2024—exists to protect and promote the lifegiving “waters of the state,” as defined by Georgia’s constitution. Atlanta’s abundant mineral springs anchored health resorts and gathering places. Though many were piped underground in the 20th century, they remain vital today—for recreation, culture, ecology, and environmental justice.

This 2-hour guided walk invites you to see downtown differently: as a living landscape shaped by water, rooted by trees, and full of stories waiting to surface.

About the Guides:

• Hannah S. Palmer is a writer and artist from the southside of Atlanta. Through essays, memoir, and public art projects, she explores the hidden histories and wildness that shape our lives in the urban landscape. Her award-winning memoir Flight Path: A Search for Roots beneath the World's Busiest Airport (2017) was included on Atlanta Magazine’s list of “essential books that explain today’s Atlanta.” Palmer’s new book, The Pool Is Closed: Segregation, Summertime, and the Search for a Place to Swim was published by LSU Press in 2024.
• Chris Hrubesh is Trees Atlanta’s Downtown Planting Project Manager and a resident of Downtown Atlanta. He has lived and worked in SoDo (South Downtown) for the last 20 years. Prior to becoming staff at Trees Atlanta, Chris volunteered with them for 20 years. In Chris’s previous career he was an Emmy and Peabody award winning journalist for CNN traveling across the globe to over 35 countries. He left his former career to take on Climate collapse full-time removing thousands of tons of impermeable surfaces and planting over a thousand large trees that help with the heat island effect(in downtown Atlanta) as well as helping with storm water management.

Additional Information

• Getting There: Meet at Walter’s Clothing (66 Decatur St. SE, Atlanta 30303). This is a 6-minute walk from the 5 Points MARTA Station. There are paid parking garages downtown, for example, 47 Pryor St SW, Atlanta (In GA State University)
• What to Bring and Wear: Reusable water bottle, comfortable shoes (that can get muddy), sunscreen, layers of clothing, hats/sunglasses, and bug repellent are recommended.
• Terrain, Incline, and Length: The walk is about 2 miles around downtown Atlanta on flat terrain.
• Registration required. This is a free tour. Please consider making a donation when registering. Rain Date - In the case of rain, this event will be rescheduld to Wednesday, September 9th from 6:30 - 8:30pm.
• City in a Forest Certification: The City Forest Certification is Trees Atlanta’s newest community action program. By attending this program you can earn 1 Acorn towards your City Forest Certification
• Questions: If you have any questions or comments regarding this event, please email education@treesatlanta.org.

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