FRIENDS OF GRAND RAPIDS PARKS

PARKS 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.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.