FRIENDS OF GRAND RAPIDS PARKS
720 CURVE STREET SW SUITE B, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503 www.friendsofgrparks.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO CULTIVATE VIBRANT PARKS, GREEN SPACES, AND TREES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE URBAN FOREST PROJECT (UFP) IS PROGRAM OF FRIENDS OF GRAND RAPIDS PARKS THAT WORKS TO ENGAGE CITIZENS TO HELP ADD TO THE 2011 GREEN GRAND RAPIDS AMENDMENT TO THE CITY'S MASTER PLAN TO ESTABLISH A 40% TREE CANOPY GOAL IN GRAND RAPIDS. THE PROJECT COLLABORATES WITH THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS FORESTRY DEPARTMENT TO INVOLVE NEIGHBORS IN EXPANDING THE URBAN TREE CANOPY. IN ORDER TO HELP REACH THE 40% CANOPY COVER GOAL WE PROVIDE NEIGHBORS WITH TREE-PLANTING RESOURCES IN UNDERSERVED PUBLIC AREAS, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO ENCOURAGE TREE PLANTING, AND OFFER MINI GRANT AND OTHER TREE PLANTING OPPORTUNITIES. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP NEIGHBORS UNDERSTAND THAT TREES PROVIDE MYRIAD BENEFITS, LIKE LEAD ABATEMENT, STORM WATER MANAGEMENT, REDUCTION IN THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, AND PROVIDE HABITAT FOR MANY ANIMALS. OUR PARKS ALIVE PROGRAM IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN THE FRIENDS OF GRAND RAPIDS PARKS AND THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS TO RECLAIM AND SUSTAIN PARKS THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM AND SPONSORSHIP. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS REPRESENTED BY RESIDENTS AND GROUPS. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IS CRITICAL TO CREATING A GREAT PARK SYSTEM WITH ONGOING SUPPORT. OUR PROGRAMS ARE ESSENTIAL SO THAT WE CAN EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHY PARKS ARE VITAL FOR INCREASING QUALITY OF LIFE BY PROVIDING PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL, AND SOCIAL ELEMENTS THAT IMPACT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY WE PROMOTE WHY PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES ARE ESSENTIAL GATHERING PLACES THAT ADD TO THE HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS AND THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.

PARK AND TREE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY AND EVENTS: FRIENDS OF GR PARKS HOSTS OVER 60+ SPECIAL EVENTS TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND ENGAGE NEIGHBORS THROUGH PARKS AND TREES. OUR VOLUNTEERS GATHER TO SPRUCE-UP PARKS OR PLANT AND MAINTAIN TREES. THESE OPPORTUNITIES ALLOW BOTH SEASONED AND NOVICE FGRP VOLUNTEERS TO GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH OUR PARKS AND FORESTRY TOOLS. AS PART OF A COMMITMENT TO ENGAGING COMMUNITY AROUND ADVOCACY FOR PARKS, FRIENDS OF GR PARKS COLLABORATES WITH GR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO GIVE INPUT ON NEW OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN PARKS OUTLINED IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION 5-YEAR MASTER PLAN. THROUGH OUR WORK, WE BRING TOGETHER THE COMMUNITY TO KEEP THE ACTIVATION, ADVOCACY, AND VOLUNTEERISM MOMENTUM GOING IN OUR GREEN SPACES.

PARKS ALIVE LEADERS PROGRAM - PARKS ALIVE IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN THE FRIENDS OF GRAND RAPIDS PARKS AND THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS TO RECLAIM AND SUSTAIN PARKS THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM AND SPONSORSHIP. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS REPRESENTED BY RESIDENTS AND GROUPS. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IS CRITICAL TO CREATING A GREAT PARK SYSTEM WITH ONGOING SUPPORT. IN 2018, FRIENDS OF GR PARKS, AMWAY, AND THE CITY PARTNERED WITH KABOOM TO BUILD A NEW PLAYGROUND AT EASTERN PARK WITH 250 VOLUNTEERS. OUR PROGRAMS ARE ESSENTIAL SO THAT WE CAN EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHY PARKS ARE VITAL FOR INCREASING QUALITY OF LIFE BY PROVIDING PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL, AND SOCIAL ELEMENTS THAT IMPACT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY WE PROMOTE WHY PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES ARE ESSENTIAL GATHERING PLACES THAT ADD TO THE HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS AND THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. OUR PARKS CREATE A BACKYARD FOR MANY WHO MAY NOT HAVE ONE. PARKS BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN ONE COMMON SPACE TO UNIFY IN GRIEF, PROTEST, OR CELEBRATION. THROUGH OUR WORK, WE BRING TOGETHER THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY'S PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO KEEP THE ACTIVATION, ADVOCACY, AND VOLUNTEERISM MOMENTUM GOING. FRIENDS FOCUSES ON CREATING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT HELP TO CREATE PARK AND TREE ADVOCATES, ORGANIZE MORE VOLUNTEER STEWARDSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND VIBRANT PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES.

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