Feb 20, 2026 - News

Georgia outdoor gear tax to fund $33 million for new parks, trails

Thomas Wheatley

Sunlit sandstone formations with reddish and creamy hues surrounded by green pine trees under a clear sky in a forested canyon landscape. — Providence Canyon State Park in southwest Georgia's Stewart County. Photo: Courtesy of Georgia Department of Natural Resources

That backpack you bought last year helped raise $33 million that will soon fund new parks, trails and conservation projects across Georgia — including a new Atlanta nature preserve.

Why it matters: The Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program, which has raised more than $110 million since Georgia voters overwhelmingly approved the tax on outdoor recreation goods, has become one of the state's tools for expanding access to parks and protecting natural areas.

Driving the news: On Wednesday, a Georgia House of Representatives committee approved a slate of 14 projects totaling $33.2 million.

The list now heads to the Senate for an up-or-down vote.

Some of the projects receiving funding in this cycle:

🐦 Atlanta: Falling Water Park, a proposed green space in southwest Atlanta that will include "fishing, birdwatching and more," is slated to receive $2 million.

🌳 Carroll County: McIntosh Reserve Park, a 950-acre green space along the Chattahoochee River, will receive $1.46 million to expand outdoor access.

🛝 Monroe: The city one hour east of Atlanta will use a $3 million award to develop a park along the Alcovy River.

🧑‍🦽‍➡️ Stewart County: Providence Canyon State Park, sometimes referred to as "Georgia's Little Grand Canyon," will use $620,000 for ADA and trail improvements.

By the numbers: Large land conservation purchases in Charlton and Brantley counties account for nearly $10 million of the proposed spending.

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Georgia outdoor gear tax to fund $33 million for new parks, trails

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