As Dave Harvey retires from his co-leadership position at Park People, he reflects on the incredible journey since founding the organization in 2011.
Park People’s Executive Director, Erika Nikolai, has been honoured with the Distinguished Individual Award from World Urban Parks—an international recognition that celebrates her leadership and the growing national movement Park People has helped build here in Canada.
The programs offers community members from equity-deserving neighbourhoods training and coaching to help them enhance or transform vacant or underused spaces into public green areas.
A guidance and resources to measure the impact of your park work on community health and wellbeing, integrating a social equity lens.
Meet the Ontario Community Changemakers and learn more about their inspiring initiatives transforming parks across the province.
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By donating to Park People, you’ll support vibrant parks for everyone.
Park People
Jul 3, 2025 Canada-wide
Activating parks, building community and creating change across Canada.
“We often have limits in our heads, where we don’t always feel capable of taking action. I overcame this barrier by meeting other people who are doing great things in the parks. Thanks to the Park People program, I was able to get the myth out of my head that I am limited. Everything is possible!”
Program participant, Montreal Urban Park Champions
As we face some of the most significant challenges in generations, parks remain relevant in addressing climate change, social cohesion, and political polarization. Parks and public spaces are more than physical landscapes; they’re where we learn to share, to compromise, and to adapt to the needs of people we don’t yet know.
From the community leaders we support in activating their local parks to the municipalities that use our insights to create better park policy, the movement continues to expand. We’re pleased to share just some of these impacts in our 2024 Impact Report.
Small actions in parks often lead to unexpected change. A senior in Vancouver might become inspired to start organizing her own community events via our TD Park People Grants, or an Arts in the Parks participant who discovers a new path as an artist.
Park People’s future is rooted in connection. We’ll continue to support the people and ideas that help public spaces thrive.
Learn more about Park People’s Sparking Change and 8 80 Cities’ Ontario Community Changemakers programs, and how they empower communities to transform parks across Ontario.