TD Park People Grants Make Green Spaces Into People Places

Our shared green spaces have the potential to significantly improve the quality of life in our cities. However, that potential can only be reached when green spaces become people places. Research has found that each additional supervised activity in a park leads to a 48% increase in park use. As modern life continues to coax us to stay inside with the promise of comfort and convenience, park events help draw us outdoors into our green spaces, where we can build meaningful connections to nature and to one another.

Now in its third year, TD Park People Grants have helped bring 663 events and 61,398 people into city parks across Canada. This year, TD Park People Grants will reach even further providing critical support to community park events in Metro Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Greater Toronto Area, National Capital Region (Ottawa-Gatineau), Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax Regional Municipality.

Starting today, qualified organizations and community groups are encouraged to apply to receive a $2,000 grant to host three events in their local parks or green spaces between Earth Day, April 28, 2019, and New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2020.

The $2,000 grants give more people more reasons to head to their local park. The grants are supported through TD’s global corporate citizenship platform, The Ready Commitment, which is designed to help open doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow.

“The more time we spend time in our precious green spaces, the more deeply we can connect to nature and the people in our communities,” says Carolyn Scotchmer, Executive Director of TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

Over the past two years, TD Park People grants have supported events like a Vancouver community BBQ where 100 people gathered together for a free outdoor meal served on a 30ft long table, a Zero Waste picnic at a Toronto park, offering people new ways to reduce their environmental footprint, and nature walks exploring wild Montreal landscapes in the fall.

If you are part of a park group looking to host engaging community park events that connect people with local green spaces, apply by March 2nd at parkpeople.ca/parkgrants/. 

We’re proud to launch this round of grants with a series of videos highlighting the impact TD Park People Grant events have in city parks across Canada. Enjoy!