We expanded to 4 additional parks this year. Each of the 20 parks participating in I LOVE GR PARKS had a local Park Coordinator that identified projects and coordinated neighborhood volunteers. Here were some of their accomplishments.
An event like this isn’t possible without planning and support from many groups and organizations. Special thanks to Meijer, Inc. for supported I LOVE GR PARKS with individual gift cards which were given to Park Coordinators for beautification projects and volunteer support. The City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Dept. supplied much of the necessary equipment and supplies to achieve complete the specified tasks.
Plenty Creative, GRPS, Citizen Shirt, Sobie Meats, Forest Hills Foods and Swift Printing allowed us to make this event more affordable with reduced costs or donations.
In addition to many dedicated residents, the following groups and organizations volunteered: Young Nonprofit Professionals Assoc., BL2END, Living Green in Creston, DeVries Properties, The Other Way, North Park PTA, Plante Moran, West Leonard CRC, Living Stones Academy PTA, West Mich. Mountain Bike Assoc. , San Chez Green Team, Pro Care Tree Service
Several Neighborhood Associations also assisted our efforts to coordinate neighborhood support: West Grand, East Hills, Eastown Community Assoc., Heritage Hill, Neighbors of Belknap Lookout, Creston, Roosevelt Park, Heartside.
I LOVE GR PARKS is about getting work done, but it’s more than that. So while the outputs of painted benches, flowers planted, trees trimmed, etc. are great, the real outcomes are in people connecting with their local community and public spaces. We had the honor of hearing many of these stories at the picnic at Wilcox Park following the spruce-up.
In general, we saw people making great neighborhood connections and taking pride in their city. THANK YOU!