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.
Why are events in parks important? How do grants fit into Park People’s larger goals for creating change in city parks?
Meet the Ontario Community Changemakers and learn more about their inspiring initiatives transforming parks across the province.
Creative ways to connect people to nature, community, and care for ravines in Toronto.
Learn more about green social prescribing, an evolving practice that encourages individuals to reestablish connections with nature and one another to enhance their mental, physical, and social wellbeing.
A reflection on the BEING BLACK IN PUBLIC Survey Report, exploring how Black communities experience parks and public spaces, and what fosters joy and belonging.
Connect, Support, Influence and Inspire your community parks - Get our newsletter and email updates!
By donating to Park People, you’ll support vibrant parks for everyone.
The diverse communities served by parks and public spaces hold incredible knowledge about their own lived experiences, wants, and needs. However, it can be complicated for outside placemakers – including governing bodies and NGOs – to access that knowledge in a way that feels equitable, respectful, and beneficial for all.
When working with communities, it’s critical that we hold ourselves accountable to them at every stage of placemaking: from consultation to impact measurement. How can we better empower communities to set their own terms, and how can we stick to them? What information do we gather, how, and to what ends? How can we be more accountable to, and better advocates for, community partners?
Watch this webinar recording to learn from community leaders and advocates, creatives, placemakers, and educators from across North America as they address the real challenges and exceptional opportunities within community consultation and impact measurement.
The webinar is held in English; French subtitles are available.
An award-winning strategist and creative producer, Bridget has held senior municipal management positions with portfolios spanning arts, cultural policy, public…
In her seven years as the Better Block’s Executive Director, Krista has worked with neighbors in more than 75 cities…
Michelle holds a PhD in Research Methods and Statistics (University of Denver), and a Postdoc on digitizing elder wisdom (Department…
Sasha is the Training and Capacity Building Coordinator with the Community Data Program. In this position, Sasha works to increase…
Michael has worked as Program Coordinator and Analyst for the Community Data Program for the past 8 years. Over the…
According to the Canadian Survey on Disability, 27% of Canadians aged 15 and over have one or more disabilities that limit their daily activities.
Making your event accessible and inclusive is not just a nice thing to do; it is the right thing to do! It ensures that no one is left out from receiving your message, participating in your activities or program, or being part of your network. This inclusive approach that welcomes diverse voices and perspectives benefits our organizations, parks, cities, and society as a whole!
Whether planning a nature walk, park picnic, planting workshop, a music/arts event, or an online webinar, it is essential to create a welcoming, safe, and respectful environment for participants of all abilities, backgrounds, ages, and gender identities!
Here are some valuable tips to help you plan accessible and inclusive events.
“We move together as people with mixed abilities, multiracial, multi-gendered, mixed class, across the sexual spectrum, with a vision that leaves no body-mind behind.”
Julie Nowak, Multiply-disabled and neuroqueer educator, consultant, and writer; and Kristie Cabrera, queer, Latine, neurodivergent, accessibility and inclusivity consultant.
Disability justice is both a framework and a movement dedicated to creating a less ableist and more equitable world. It goes beyond simple governmental compliance and addresses all types of disabilities—not just those related to mobility issues—to promote comprehensive inclusivity.
Learn more:
Planning an event involves juggling many tasks, like finding a venue, arranging food, materials, registrations, and keeping everyone informed. Sometimes, accessibility needs are considered only as an afterthought, if at all.
The key is to consider the many barriers that can exist for people with different abilities and backgrounds and address them at the event’s planning stage. Before you plan anything, develop a checklist of accessibility needs (see the Park People checklist below) and prioritize them based on their importance.
Remember, accessibility is a team effort; every person has a role to play! It involves coordination from budgeting to communications. An important reality is that prioritizing accessibility often requires a larger budget to cover different needs, such as renting a ramp, booking an accessible bus, or welcoming personal support workers at no extra charge.
“Together, through a respectful exchange of information and a commitment to accessibility, we can transform park programs, presentations, events, and activities into inclusive social and physical spaces – where everyone gets to benefit and contribute.”
Kari Krogh, Disabled co-founder of EcoWisdom, a social enterprise that offers Accessible Nature Wellbeing Programs online and in-person as well as Nature and Forest Therapy Guide certification training with an emphasis on disability-environmental justice, accessibility, and intersectional inclusion.
Accessibility means enabling everyone to have access to everything. It means removing access barriers to people with cognitive conditions and hearing, visual, and mobility-related impairments. It also means removing access barriers for people who have non-visible disabilities, such as neurodiversity or chronic illnesses resulting in sensory sensitivities and energy limitations, temporary mobility limitations (a broken leg, for example), seniors who may experience intermittent pain, and people of all body types, backgrounds, religions, and gender identities.
Even participants who don’t have a particular barrier in accessing your events and activities can benefit from accessibility features. For instance, research shows that captions and subtitles improve understanding and memory retention for all viewers.
Here’s a handy checklist to help you ensure your event is accessible and inclusive. This list isn’t exhaustive; additional considerations may be necessary based on your event’s specific needs.
When selecting event venues, it is essential to consider a range of accessibility features:
For outdoor events, confirm that spaces are designed and maintained to allow individuals with limited mobility to navigate safely and comfortably. Avoid venues with uneven terrain or steep inclines, and opt for stable, firm, and slip-resistant surfaces such as pavement, crushed stone or compacted soil. Trails should be at least 36 inches wide to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers.
Additionally, verify that service dogs are permitted in the venue (both indoor and outdoor) and arrangements are in place for a relief area.
Book a visit to conduct a site assessment of accessibility features before securing the location and venue. Consider inviting disabled individuals to visit your top pick venues and help assess the site to ensure it meets their needs.
To make sure everyone can enjoy every aspect of your event, we recommend you to:
Before the Event:
When promoting your event, ensure accessibility information is on the platform you’re using—webpage, FAQ, Eventbrite page, or Facebook event. It should cover various aspects of accessibility regarding the location, transportation, sensory experiences, and interactions one might expect. It will help people determine if they can/want to participate and plan accordingly.
If possible, take a video or photos of the terrain and include a link on the event website so that people can decide whether they can comfortably participate. If possible, allow attendees to check out the site in advance.
Ensure that people with disabilities can bring a support person at no extra cost and that this information is clearly communicated when you launch your event.
You can also provide an email address for accessibility inquiries and add a dedicated question in the registration form so interested people can describe their access needs before the event. Some participants might have specific requests that you hadn’t considered, such as the need to accommodate respirators, for instance.
This approach can reduce stress for participants who have faced barriers in the past and encourage them to consider participating when they may have thought it wasn’t possible. It will also help everyone get ready for the big day. Failing to follow up on these needs can be harmful. It’s important to openly discuss what accommodations can be provided within the available budget, which may require a discussion via email or phone.
During the Event:
Effective communication and clear signage are essential so all attendees can navigate different event venue areas, such as washrooms, reserved seating areas, the low-stimulation rest area and activity zones. Use clear fonts, large sizes, highly contrasting colours, simple language, universal symbols, and consistently strategic signage placement. If possible, provide accessible sign options, such as braille or tactile maps.
Make certain all your activities are safe and inclusive for everyone:
Let’s discuss concrete examples of accessible and inclusive park activities.
Multisensory Art event or installation
Visual art is often prioritized over other mediums, but multisensory installations offer a more inclusive experience. The approach is to use various interactive elements to engage multiple senses, such as sound and touch.
For instance, the “Interconnection Audio Stories: Knowledge, Myths, and Legends” project offers an immersive visual AND audio experience of an existing mural in Paul Martel Park in Toronto. It invites people to stop and listen, engaging their senses beyond just vision.
Another great example is a recent exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario showcasing the various contributions of women to the visual arts in Europe, which included multisensory experiences with scent and touch stations.
Planting / Stewardship event
Community gardens and stewardship events are very popular among park lovers. To make your garden accessible, use elevated beds and planters for wheelchair users or those unable to knee or bend, and place them near accessible paths (firm, levelled, and free of loose gravel). Have one or several trained staff members dedicated to supporting attendees.
Offer various ways to get involved for those who can’t physically remove invasive plants or participate in planting. They can participate in wildlife or plant inventory projects, site and plant assessments, communication and promotion, public education and nature interpretation whether it’s before, during, or after your event.
To enhance navigation and engagement with your content, prioritize platforms that support accessibility features like screen readers, keyboard navigation, and captioning options.
Enable closed captions or live transcripts for all audio and video content, and check that these features are synchronized to provide the best possible experience.
When creating presentation materials, including slide decks, videos, documents, and web pages, do it with accessibility in mind. Use clear fonts, high contrast, captions for video content, audio playback for PDF, and text description for images (text below the image and/or alt-text).
Learn more on web content accessibility:
Just as with external events, it’s important to include an option in the registration form for participants to specify their accessibility requirements or include an option for them to reach out and share their accessibility needs. It helps identify and accommodate individual needs in advance.
Provide technical support and assistance through multiple channels, including chat, email, and phone, so participants can easily access help if/when needed. Another good practice is to begin the presentation with tips on using the platform, the accessibility features and where to find additional support. This ensures that all participants know and can use the available resources effectively. When you are welcoming a disabled presenter, it can be very helpful to have a tech-check session in advance.
For online events lasting over an hour, we recommend you add one break to accommodate participants with personal care needs who may need time to rest, manage their energy levels, or move to manage chronic pain.
When presenting slides, you’ll describe the text displayed and provide more context and information. Please also provide detailed descriptions of the images, videos, or illustrations shown. It will take a few seconds but improve the experience of attendees who can’t see the images and videos correctly.
“What I liked most was being together with everyone in the first space ever since my body began to change where I felt I could be totally myself without question or explanation.”
EcoWisdom Accessible Nature Wellbeing Program Participant,, Vancouver
We want to acknowledge that we are not a disabled-led organization. The best practices shared here are rooted in our intention to make our events accessible, developed in consultation with disabled-led organizations such as Eco Wisdom. We are sharing this as a companion resource as part of our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) commitments.
Park People launched the 2023 Canadian City Parks Report, the fifth annual report highlighting the most significant trends, issues, and practices shaping Canada’s city parks.
Watch the webinar recording to meet the report’s researchers and writers and get the inside scoop on:
The report launch webinar features a lively discussion on the report’s key findings and future directions for city parks.
This hour-long webinar features Adri Stark and Jake Tobin Garett, co-author of the report. It is moderated by Selina Young, member of Park People’s Board of Directors and Director, Indigenous Affairs Office at the City of Toronto.
Adri Stark is specialized in research and policy at Park People, and co-author of the annual Canadian City Parks Report.…
Jake Tobin Garrett (he/him) is a writer, illustrator and public space policy and research consultant. He was previously Park People’s…
Selina is Métis from northern Saskatchewan. She has been a guest on Anishnawbe and Haudenosaunee territory in and around Toronto…
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:
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volunteers engaged in stewardship restoration
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of participants say their mental health is improved from stewardship activities
m2 of invasive species removed
Stanley Park in Vancouver
High Park in Toronto
Mount Royal Park in Montreal
Champlain Heights Trail system in Vancouver
Everett Crowley Park in Vancouver
Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes, Sandy Lake, Backlands / Williams Lake in Halifax
Darlington Ecological Corridor in Montreal
South Saskatchewan River Valley in Saskatoon
North Saskatchewan River Valley in Edmonton
Edwards Gardens and Botanical Garden in Toronto
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.
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:
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
community events organized
people connected in local parks
Applications for the 2026 TD Park People Grants are now closed.
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
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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
Your group can demonstrate an environmental focus in many ways, whether through environmental education, a commitment to sustainability practices, or stewardship activities:
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:
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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Discover the 72 community groups and organizations across Canada receiving TD Park People Grants.
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.
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.
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.
“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