The 20th Anniversary Turtle Walk 

A "Shellabration!" - Town Turtles Celebrate 20 Years of Cityhood

A couple of familiar "faces" (and their colorful shells) are taking up residence this summer around the City Green. From mid-June through September, eight turtle sculptures will be on display around the City Green. The 20th Anniversary Turtle Walk, a joint project of Art Sandy Springs and the Sandy Springs Society, is bringing back a bit of the City's history as we celebrate this significant milestone. 

Included in the collection:

• Titian, on loan from the Sandy Springs Library
• Bottashelli, donated by Linda and Tom Morris
• Leonardo Terrapini, on loan from the collection of Jan Collins
• Memutic, the Chieftan of Sandy Springs, on loan from South State Bank
• Cable, on loan from the collection of Ken and Trish Byers
• Handsome, on loan from Northside Hospital
• Hero, on loan from Sandy Springs Fire Station 1
• Soapbox, on loan from the Sandy Springs Library
• Sandy and the Children, a gift from the Sandy Springs Society, is on permanent display near the Splash Pad.
• Real Estate Monopoly, on loan from the collection of Gail Raper, is "walking" the purple carpet in Byers Theatre lobby.

You can view images of the Turtles on the City Springs Art Walk page, or visit City Springs to see them in person.

A Turtle's Tale - the History of the Project

In 2004, The Sandy Springs Society organized a public art exhibit (the first of its kind in Sandy Springs) to unite the citizens and foster a sense of community. Taking a cue from the environment around the springs, the organizers chose the lowly Eastern Box Turtle as their mascot. The turtle was chosen not only because it is indigenous to the area but also because it is known for its longevity.

The turtle sculpture mold, designed from a drawing by Sandy Springs artist Jack Elrod of Mark Trail Comic Strip fame, was crafted by Cowpainters of Chicago. The jaunty turtle, standing upright with his arms outstretched, was aptly named Sandy, and the project became known as the Town Turtles of Sandy Springs.

As the excitement surrounding the turtles grew, so did the community’s interest and before long, 75 turtles had been sponsored. The turtles could not have come at a more opportune time as the residents of Sandy Springs were making headway on a 25-year effort to become a city. “Slow and steady wins the race” became a rallying cry and Sandy the turtle became the perfect ambassador for Sandy Springs.

After the initial unveiling at a parade through downtown Sandy Springs, the turtles were displayed at the Sandy Springs Festival; later, the turtles were placed around town.

After the exhibit, 700 turtle fans attended Turtles Head Home, an auction where the sculptures were sold for prices ranging from $4,000 to $20,000.

Shelling Out the Bucks! The Project's Financial Impact

The Town Turtles provided needed funding for the new city of Sandy Springs! The entire project, including the auction and the sale of turtle merchandise and sponsorships, raised over $750,000.

Funds raised by the Town Turtles of Sandy Springs project were used to:

•   Purchase City parks from Fulton County when Sandy Springs became incorporated
•   Develop The Sandy Springs Society Entertainment Lawn at Heritage Green
•   Start the Sandy Springs Society Foundation, an endowment for long-term growth