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For people living in cities, public parks are vital sites of connection. They’re spaces for meeting our neighbours, engaging with nature, and mitigating the harmful impacts of climate change. But large urban parks also face unique challenges, often requiring more resources for maintenance, operations, and programming. 

Park People created the Cornerstone Parks program to support and connect the organizations working in large urban parks across Canada. We’re the only national network dedicated to ensuring that these park leaders can access resources, learn from one another, and maximize the impact and influence of their important work. 

Here’s what we’re up to: 

  • Supporting our partners to accurately evaluate and communicate the health, well-being and social benefits of their work 
  • Building the capacity of park-based NGOs operating in large urban parks by providing them with direct funding, networking and mentorship
  • Offering informative workshops, research, and resources on the latest issues and best practices from cities across the country

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volunteers engaged in stewardship restoration

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of participants say their mental health is improved from stewardship activities

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m2 of invasive species removed

Cornerstone Parks Network

Park Use and Stewardship Reports

Park People and our Cornerstone partners are seeking to better understand the link between parks and health. Our groundbreaking research shows that park stewardship has tremendous benefits for our mental and physical health, for our sense of social connection, and for our overall well-being.

National Urban Parks

Parks Canada is building a new kind of park system, one that brings nature into the heart of cities. Launched in 2021, the National Urban Parks program aims to create 6 parks with the goals to:

  • Support nature conservation
  • Increase connection to people and nature
  • Advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Park People is proud to have collaborated with Parks Canada by contributing to the interim policy that guides the designation and management of new national urban parks, and by engaging and supporting organizations working in large urban parks across the country.

Building vital connections between people and parks

TD Park People Grants are available for almost any community event in a publicly accessible green space — whether in a city park, social housing property, or schoolyard — that fosters ongoing care and protection of these spaces.

From Indigenous plant medicine workshops to nature walks, we help local leaders organize events focused on environmental education, sustainability, or stewardship that bring people together.

Each year, we support over 70 community groups across 21 urban areas in Canada to host two in-person and virtual events.

You could receive $2,000 to support your vision to connect people to their local parks and green spaces!

Each year, thanks to the TD Park People Grants program: 

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grants awarded

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community events organized

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people connected in local parks

Key Dates

Jan 14 2026

Applications open

Feb 23 2026

Applications close

April 2026

Notification to grant recipients

May 2026

Distribution of funds

April 22 to Dec 31, 2026

Park events period

Oct 2026

Project report due

Eligibility

ELIGIBLE ✅NOT ELIGIBLE ❌
Groups working in public parks and green spaces that are readily accessible (eg. city parks, social housing properties, school grounds, and other urban green spaces that are publicly accessible) in the 21 eligible urban areas across Canada: 
– British Columbia: Metro Vancouver, Kelowna, Saanich, Township of Langley
– Alberta: Calgary, Edmonton Metropolitan Region, Lethbridge,
– Saskatchewan:  Regina, Saskatoon,
– Manitoba: Winnipeg,
– Ontario: Greater Toronto and Hamilton Areas, Kitchener – Waterloo, Thunder Bay, Guelph, Ottawa,
– Quebec: Greater Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau,
– New Brunswick: Fredericton,
– Prince Edward Island: Charlottetown,
– Nova Scotia: Halifax Regional Municipality,
– Newfoundland and Labrador: St. John’s.

Groups working on private property or green spaces not open to the public. 

and/or

Groups working in public parks located OUTSIDE of the eligible cities.
Grassroots community groups and small community-based organizations that include, but are not limited to, volunteer-based park groups, local agencies, resident associations, and not-for-profit groups active in their local parks.

More information:
– Groups are not required to have a trustee or have non-profit/charitable status. 
– Grassroots community groups representing diverse communities or neighbourhoods are especially encouraged to apply. 
– BIAs are eligible to apply for the grant so long as the events meet the eligibility criteria.

For smaller or newly formed groups without event-planning experience, we strongly suggest collaborating with a local organization that can provide support for your events. 

Municipalities are not eligible to apply for a TD Park People Grant. However, partnerships between any or all of the above and a municipality will be accepted if the group, not the city, applies.

Applications from an individual person are not eligible; they must be from a group. 
We will also not review multiple applications from the same group, even if submitted by different people.
Groups offering TWO FREE events.

Groups CHARGING for their events and/or offering less than TWO events.

Groups applying for the first time AND groups who have previously received the TD Park People Grant* are eligible. However, to support as many new community groups as possible, preference will be given to first-time applicants for similar proposals. For those who have previously received a grant, we will be looking for new ideas and events that differ from those funded before.

*A group may receive the grant for a maximum of two consecutive years (see section on the right).

Groups that have received a grant in two consecutive years are NOT eligible to apply for a third consecutive year, but they can apply the following year.
Receiving TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Grants does not make a group ineligible for Park People grants. However, the scope of the grants is different.

Equity-deserving groups will be prioritized in the application process. A minimum of 50% of all microgrants will be awarded to those who identify as such.

Please check your group’s eligibility below before submitting your application. If you are not eligible for the TD Park People Grant, your application will not be reviewed. 

Application

Please create an account and submit your application on Blackbaud.  

The application form should take about 2 hours to complete once you know what your events will look like. Here is a sample of the form to help you prepare the application.

For an overview of the application questions and more information on creating an account and submitting your application, please refer to the FAQ section below.

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

BLACKBAUD TOOL GUIDE

Need help with your TD Park People Grant application?

Our team is here to support you! You can reach out in the following ways:

Park People is committed to supporting people with disabilities during the application process. If you encounter any barriers while completing your application form or would like to request any access needs, please contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

We made a few changes to the program this year, summarized below.

Eligible urban areas: St John’s, NL joins the list of eligible urban areas in 2026, while Brandon, MB is no longer an eligible urban area.

Multi-year recipients: Groups that have received the grants before can apply again, but to prioritize first-time applicants, those funded two years in a row must take a one-year break before reapplying. For example, a group funded in 2024 and 2025 would next be eligible for the 2027 TD Park People grant.

Application Management Tool: We are moving from Survey Monkey Apply to Blackbaud Grantmaking. Learning to use a new tool can take some adjustment, but the questions below provide guidelines for navigating it. If additional support is required, you can always contact us at boursestdppgrants@parkpeople.ca for help.

Decisions will be made by a team of reviewers composed of Park People staff in consultation with TD. Application selection will be based on the following criteria:

  • Strength of the application – past event experience, compelling argument describing the proposed events
  • Environmental focus – groups should incorporate an environmental care or protection component into their events or event activities.
  • Equity-deserving communities – at least 50% of grants will be given to these groups. These may include, but are not limited to, Black, Indigenous and people of colour communities, disabled persons or people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+, newcomers, women, and low-income people.
  • Geographic diversity – representation of many neighbourhoods in each city and representation of the 21 urban areas eligible for the grants. 
  • Originality of the event ideas – aiming for many different types of events in parks
  • Evidence of consideration of inclusion/accessibility

While meeting any or all of these criteria will not guarantee that your group will be awarded a grant, we are looking for these qualities in each application.

The application form should take about 2 hours to complete once you’ve planned your events. Here is a preview of the questions:

  • Describe your group or organization, and indicate if your group is from an equity-deserving community.
  • Outline your past experiences in hosting community events in parks and green spaces.
  • If partnering with other groups or organizations, list them and briefly describe their roles.
  • Provide a brief description of the two events you plan to host.
  • Describe the steps you will take to ensure your events are inclusive, accessible, and safe.
  • Explain how your proposed events will focus on environmental impact (e.g., environmental education, sustainability practices, or stewardship activities).
  • Highlight the significance of these events for your community. 
  • Describe how you will use the $2,000 grant to support your events. List any additional sources of funding, confirmed or anticipated.

To create an account on Blackbaud and apply, please follow these instructions.

Blackbaud is in English by default, but you can switch to French either before logging into your account or once you have logged in.

Before logging in:

On the login page, click on the drop-down menu at the top left and select “French (Canada)”. The language will update automatically without requiring confirmation.

When already logged in:

On the program’s home page, click on your name and “My Account” to access the menu.

Click on the drop-down menu in the “Language” section and select “French (Canada)”. The language will update automatically without requiring confirmation.

Your group can demonstrate an environmental focus in many ways, whether through environmental education, a commitment to sustainability practices, or stewardship activities: 

  • Raising awareness on environmental issues, such as climate change, or teaching about the local environment by hosting a nature walk. 
  • Committing to sustainability practices, such as ensuring your event is zero-waste or hosting a bike repair clinic or clothing swap. 
  • Hosting stewardship activities could include park cleanups, planting and gardening, invasive species removal, and other projects that enhance local green space.

We encourage you to get creative and think outside the box!

Here are some useful links: 

Hosting a free, open-to-the-public event is not enough to ensure it is inclusive and accessible. 

Here are some measures past grant recipients have adopted to make their park events inclusive:

  • Inviting an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper or Elder to your events and offering an honorarium.
  • Translate promotions into the most widely spoken languages in your community.
  • Ensure the event is inclusive for people using mobility devices or accompanied by service animals, and choose a park that is fully accessible to wheelchair users.
  • Serve vegetarian or vegan options, accommodate dietary needs (gluten-free, lactose-free, halal, kosher, etc.), and avoid common allergens.
  • Offer portable toilets if the park doesn’t have toilets.
  • Use gender-neutral language in your promotional materials and presentations, and ask your participants for their preferred pronouns.
  • Use closed captions for a virtual event.
  • Ensure the participation of a sign language interpreter.
  • Choose a park that is easily accessible by public transportation.
  • Conduct outreach beyond social media by engaging community leaders, schools, local newspapers, language centers, etc.

We also suggest including an accessibility section on your event page that provides information on location, transportation, food, sensory experiences, and interactions one might expect. It will help people determine if they can/want to participate and plan accordingly.For further reading, see our resource on events accessibility.

If successful, your group will receive a total of $2,000 to be spread across both events. Once you have received the funds for your grant, you are free to use them however you’d like for your events. This could include providing transportation to the event with bus tickets. You may also combine the money received from this grant with other sources of funding.

For the purposes of the program, a group is considered equity-deserving if the people helping run it are part of an equity-deserving community and/or if the group serves or engages with equity-deserving communities. We prioritize equity-deserving groups in our granting to address the inequitable distribution of resources within the parks sector.

We define equity-deserving communities as those that, due to systemic discrimination, face barriers that prevent them from having the same access to resources and opportunities as other members of society. These may include, but are not limited to, Black, Indigenous and people of colour communities, disabled persons or people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+, newcomers, women and non-binary people, and low-income people. 

These communities may be present in specific geographic areas in some cities, including Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas or Montreal’s Integrated Urban Revitalization zones*, but they are not limited to those areas.

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Three women standing in front of a plants stall

How the City of Victoria is using parks as a tool towards food justice

This case study is part of the 2024 Canadian City Parks Report, showcasing Inspiring projects, people, and policies from across Canada that offer tangible solutions to the most pressing challenges facing city parks.

Summary

  • The City of Victoria grows edible seedlings that are distributed to non-profit organizations across the city for public gardens or to disseminate to individuals and families. 
  • Park-based food programs can have widespread impacts on community health through partnerships with organizations focused on public health and mental health and organizations that work with those at-risk of experiencing food insecurity.
  • Parks departments should think creatively about the resources they have available and how they can be used to actively boost community health. 

Food-based park programming like food forests, community gardens and edible plants have grown in scope and popularity in the last five years in Canadian cities. Clearly, both municipalities and community members see the potential for food production in parks and want to see more of it. Over the past three years, 50% of city residents consistently say they’d like to see more urban agriculture and community gardens in their parks. 

But if cities are planning to invest in park-based food programs, how can they ensure they are being used and, crucially, that produce is actually reaching those in need?

Launched in 2020, the City of Victoria’s Get Growing Victoria program uses a food justice approach to provide gardening supplies to communities at-risk of experiencing food insecurity, including people experiencing houselessness, Indigenous and racialized communities, seniors, and youth. 

Instead of only focusing on increasing access to fresh food for all residents, food justice acknowledges that certain populations face structural and systemic barriers to food security. By acknowledging the barriers to gardening, the Get Growing program is able to provide sustainable and healthy food to those who tend to be excluded from community garden programs. 

Fernwood Get Growing Victoria Participants. Credit: City of Victoria, Kingtide Films

The Parks department quickly realized that the best way to reach those at-risk populations was to partner with non-profit organizations who know the community needs best. Collaborating with non-profit partners also meant the City was better able to meet the community where they’re at rather than expecting people to self-identify and sign-up for the program through city processes. 

The program now has 67 community partners including public health organizations, mental health service providers, immigrant and refugee organizations, social service providers and affordable housing organizations. The partner organizations distribute gardening supplies and vegetable seedlings grown in City greenhouses to their clients and community members so they can use the materials at home or in their local community garden. Get Growing gives partners the autonomy to integrate the materials into their program delivery in ways that best suit their community’s needs.

City of Victoria food systems coordinator, Julia Ford, tells us they would not be able to run the program without the non-profit partners. “They greatly increase our impact, and allow us to reach more vulnerable communities that the program is intended for and who may not otherwise interact with the City directly.” 

Exemplifying Julia’s point, this year our public survey found that over 30% of city residents do not feel confident that they know who to reach out to if they experience a problem or have feedback about their park. By collaborating with local non-profits that do have stronger rapport with local community members, the City of Victoria can reach those who feel disconnected from city services. 

Now in the program’s fourth year of operation, it is estimated that 400,000 pounds of fresh produce has been grown. Beyond that, evaluation of program participants found that the vast majority of participants felt that the program increased their mental well-being, intake of healthy foods and increased their overall physical activity levels. The program demonstrates what’s possible in parks when we start looking at them with community health in mind. 

City-grown seedlings. Credit: City of Victoria, Kingtide Films.

“I think this program demonstrates the potential for Parks Departments to really look at the resources they have available and think creatively about how to use them to support community and preventive health in a much more active way,” Ford said. “I think within the Parks sector there’s a solid understanding that passive park use and access to green space is important for mental health and well-being. But how can we move to be active partners in supporting communities who want to spearhead innovative uses of public space? How can we support people to explore new recreational activities in a meaningful, accessible and equitable way?”

Julia Ford, City of Victoria Food Systems Coordinator

Recommendations 

  • Broaden your perspective on park-based food programs, recognizing them as not just an opportunity to grow food, but as powerful tools for community building, strengthening partnerships and enhancing mental health.
  • Collaborate with non-profit organizations that work with those most vulnerable to experiencing food insecurity to ensure they have access to park-based food programs. 
  • Empower non-profit partners with the autonomy to creatively use resources in ways that best address the unique needs of their community.