This year again, local leaders gathered their neighbours, built connections, and restored nature in projects big and small. The movement continues to expand, and we're pleased to share just some of these impacts in our 2025 Impact Report.
As urban parks face growing demands amid climate change, inequality and shrinking resources, the people shaping their future need space to reconnect, share ideas and imagine new ways of working together.
This guide walks you through how to start and grow a park group in Toronto, from planning your first meeting to organizing activities, reaching new people, and navigating City permits, funding, and support.
Explore low-cost, high-impact supports that park-based organizations can provide to equity-deserving communities to help make nature spaces and programs more accessible and enjoyable.
Parc Jarry in Montreal, Toronto’s waterfront, CRAB Park in Vancouver… People are coming together to protect the places they love.
What could Toronto’s parks look like in the years ahead? Our 2026 Parks Platform brings together ideas from Torontonians and four priorities for a more resilient, joyful and connected city.
Hosted by Park People and World Urban Parks, this global gathering will bring together 450+ park leaders from Canada and around the world to share and explore practical and creative park and public space ideas, and seed new relationships, collaborations, and ways of working.
By donating to Park People, you’ll support vibrant parks for everyone.
Park People
Sep 23, 2023 Toronto, Ontario
Fundraising is a great way to build the capacity of your community park group. Below are some key provincial and municipal grants that could help fund your next awesome park project in Ontario.
City of Toronto Neighbourhood Climate Action Grant (Toronto): Supports resident-led and community group climate action projects at the neighbourhood-level. Learn more
City of Toronto PollinateTO Grant (Toronto): Funds pollinator habitat creation projects that educate and engage the community. Learn more
Park People Toronto Microgrants (Toronto): Supports community groups to host an environmentally focused event to connect, celebrate nature, build collective capacity and champion Toronto’s ravines, parks, and green spaces. Learn more on our Sparking Change and InTO the ravines page
City of Toronto Indigenous Climate Action Grant: Funds Indigenous-led projects that help to address the climate crisis and improve resilience. Learn more
Ontario Community Environment Fund (Ontario): Supports community-based activities like shoreline cleanups, habitat restoration and tree planting. Learn more
Landscape Ontario Chapter Bursary Program (Ontario): Support multiple small-scale projects that benefit various communities and neighbourhoods in the region. Learn more
City of Toronto Local Leadership Grant (Toronto): Funds resident-led groups helping inspire neighbourhoods and advance key themes in the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy. Learn more
City of Toronto Community Crisis Response Fund (Toronto): Offers financial assistance for projects that address a specific community crisis and contribute to community healing. Learn more
City of Toronto Identify ‘N Impact Grants Grants (Toronto): Funds grassroots youth-led groups working to advance the City’s Toronto Youth Equity Strategy. Learn more
Ontario Community Changemakers (Ontario): Helps young Ontario residents to spark new ideas and invigorate change in their local communities.Learn more
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (Ontario): Helps many types of organizations and communities deliver programs and services with direct community benefit for the people of Ontario. Learn more
Kiwanis Club of Toronto Foundation (Toronto): Provides an Arts and Culture Grant and a Mentorship and Leadership Grant to organizations to support their work with children and youth in the community. Learn more
Evergreen Community Spotlight: Supports innovative and community-centred programs and activities to animate Evergreen Brick Works. Learn more
City of Toronto Arts & Culture Grants (Toronto): Supports community-based organizations that contribute significantly to community capacity, equitable access, well-being, diversity, civic participation and civic cohesion, through art and cultural events. Learn more
City of Toronto Indigenous Arts & Culture Partnerships Fund (Toronto): Provides funding for community groups that create new opportunities and visibility for Indigenous-led arts and culture. Learn more
Toronto Arts Council Animating Toronto Parks (Toronto): Provides funding to professional artists, organizations and artists collectives to create and present free arts programming in selected Toronto parks located outside of the downtown core. Learn more
ArtReach Youth Programming (Toronto): Supports community-based arts programming by and for youth (13-29) artists from equity-deserving communities. Learn more
Grants
Fundraising is a great way to build the capacity of your community park group. Here’s a list of national grants and funding options for park groups.
Fundraising is a great way to build the capacity of your community park group. Here’s a list of the grants and funding options for park groups located in BC.