As Dave Harvey retires from his co-leadership position at Park People, he reflects on the incredible journey since founding the organization in 2011.
Each year, we support inspiring older adults in Metro Vancouver to reconnect with nature by leading events in their local parks—sparking belonging, joy, and wellness in their communities.
Discover how Arts in the Parks is transforming Toronto’s green spaces into vibrant hubs of creativity—and how Park People helps make it all possible.
How colonialism plays out in park practices and how we can work together to embed reconciliation and decolonization.
Discover ways to help you host events in your local parks during extreme heat events.
Each year, Park People Summits bring together our growing network of urban park changemakers to connect, reflect, and explore what’s possible for more inclusive, community-powered parks in our cities.
By donating to Park People, you’ll support vibrant parks for everyone.
Finding volunteers doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle. With a little intention and care, your group can create a welcoming volunteer experience that keeps people coming back.
Doug Bennet from Friends of Sorauren Park has spent years supporting and growing the park group’s base of active volunteers. Here are some of his top tips to create an engaged, connected, and joyful volunteer team.
Early on in their work together, Doug and the Friends of Sorauren Park realized that volunteer outreach kept falling to the bottom of their agenda. To change that, they began dedicating entire meetings to honing their recruitment and volunteer engagement strategies.This intentional focus helped them to build and maintain a strong and diverse core team that’s now large enough to pull off big park events without tiring out their members.Here are some prompting questions to help kick off your volunteer recruitment strategy meeting:
Who are we looking to reach? Who are our ideal volunteers? What skills, interests, or lived experiences would be valuable? Are there people in our neighbourhood or network who might love to help but haven’t been asked? Are there barriers that might be preventing people from getting involved (childcare, accessibility, communication style)? If so, how could we reduce these barriers? What’s the time commitment we require, and how can we also include people with busier schedules?
How will we find them? Where do potential volunteers spend their time (either online or in-person)? How can we show up there? What stories, images, or messages might catch someone’s attention and inspire them to get involved?
How will we make volunteering feel welcoming and worthwhile? How will we make it clear what volunteers can expect and how they can help? What would help people feel confident and connected right away? How will we ask volunteers for feedback and ideas to improve their experience?
Now that you know who you’re looking for, and what they’ll be doing, you’re ready to plan your outreach activities.
Think about the places your neighbours already spend time (such as community bulletin boards, local social media groups, farmers’ markets, libraries, or park events) and share a friendly, specific invitation to join your group. Use photos and stories that show what volunteering looks like, so people can picture themselves getting involved. Includes clear next steps like signing up for a newsletter or attending an upcoming event. The goal is to create lots of easy entry points for people to connect with your group.
You may want to test out a couple of approaches depending on your community, your capacity, and the technology you have available. For example, Friends of Sorauren Park first created a message board for volunteers, but found that they weren’t getting much traction. They swapped the message board for a simple sign-up form and noticed an increase in volunteer interest.
First impressions go a long way. A warm in-person introduction, a simple orientation email, or an invite to a casual planning meeting can all help set the tone for why someone would want to volunteer with you. Giving people a sense of what to expect also makes it easier for them to step in and feel like part of the team.To make sure everyone feels properly welcomed, consider starting a Volunteer Ambassadors Program. Doug’s group has seen the value of experienced volunteers stepping up to welcome and mentor new folks. Ambassadors can help answer questions, share their knowledge, and create a positive first experience for newcomers.
Over time, Doug noticed that volunteers who felt socially connected to the group were more likely to stay involved. Creating opportunities for people to get to know each other helps turn volunteering into something more meaningful than just a task. This could look like hosting a potluck, organizing a group photo at an event, or setting up a casual chat thread where people can share ideas and stay in touch.
As your group grows, some volunteers will naturally want to take on bigger roles. It helps to plan for this and encourage their development by creating opportunities to build their skills and confidence over time. Workshops, training sessions, or even informal mentoring can help volunteers feel valued and supported.
Doug saw this in action at Friends of Sorauren Park. When he stepped down as Chair, long-time volunteer Joël Campbell was ready to step into the role. Joël had already led the group’s Adopt-A-Park-Tree program for several years, which gave him experience and built trust with the group. Because of this, the transition into leadership felt smooth and natural for Joël and for the whole team.It’s great practice to continually consider who might take over when current leaders step away from the group, and then make sure they have the tools to do so with confidence.
You really can’t thank volunteers enough. Doug and the Friends of Sorauren Park make a point of highlighting volunteers in their communications, and they’ve also partnered with a local sponsor to host volunteer appreciation events.Depending on the size of your group recognition might look different. If you’re not able to coordinate an event, consider posting photos on social media, sharing quotes from volunteers in a newsletter, or creating a simple infographic to show the impact of their work.Recognition helps volunteers feel seen and reminds everyone that their time and efforts matter.
Thanks to Doug at Friends of Sorauren Park for the great insights that come from years of successful work with volunteers!
Les Amis de la Montagne, Stanley Park Ecology Society and High Park Nature Centre, three of Canada’s most successful and longest-standing park-based non-profit organizations, were among the 100 Delegates in attendance when Park People launched its national network at the Heart of the City Conference in Calgary in 2017.
As Park People expanded its national programs and launched the first Canadian City Parks Report, we learned of the immense impact of these groups. For example, while four million people visit Banff National Park every year, over 8 million visit Mont-Royal – 30,000 times more visitors per acre of parkland. In fact, taken together, these three large urban parks see more than 17 million visitors every year.
Over the course of the pandemic, Park People began hosting a series of virtual “cinq a sept” sessions with large urban park organizations to delve deeper into how we could best serve these groups so they could, in turn, maximize solutions to make our cities greener and more resilient in the face of a changing climate. We learned that these large urban parks need recognition and funding to support their immense contribution to climate change and community resilience.
During the pandemic, Canadians flocked to Mount Royal, Stanley Park and High Park in never-before-seen numbers. In Park People’s own survey, we found that almost three-quarters (70%) of Canadians said their appreciation for parks and green spaces has increased during COVID-19. It’s clear that even as vaccines bring the end of the pandemic into view, there will continue to be unprecedented pressures on the unique ecosystems found in these parks.
Today, Park People is excited to be launching Cornerstone Parks, the first-of-its-kind national collaboration to revitalize the green infrastructure of the country’s largest urban parks and celebrate their incomparable value to overall wellbeing. We call them ‘Cornerstone Parks’ to express how central they are to our cities.
A Cornerstone Park is defined as a large urban green space that contributes biodiversity, ecosystem services, and multiple parks uses to the community at large. In these parks, City staff, local and park-based NGOs, and community leaders facilitate activities focused on environmental education and stewardship, to engage people from diverse backgrounds in connecting to nature and to each other. These Cornerstone Parks provide invaluable environmental and social benefits to our urban environments that make our communities healthier and more resilient to the effects of climate change.
In the first year, Park People is bringing these three groups together to support their ecosystem revitalization efforts. In Toronto’s High Park, funding will improve wetland health and restore the globally rare Black Oak Savanna habitat by removing invasive species. Efforts in Montreal’s Mont-Royal will likewise mutually benefit the park’s forests and wetlands. Through planting and stewardship work, the restored marsh will be better able to absorb stormwater thus improving groundwater quality and the habitat for species. This will reduce erosion and surface water runoff that damages the forest. In Stanley Park, by planting 500 native trees and shrubs and removing 10,000 square metres of invasive species, efforts will enhance the health of this coastal temperate rainforest that serves as a powerful carbon store and wildlife habitat in downtown Vancouver.
“Today, we understand nature’s role in restoring our sense of well-being. We need to go further and take a bigger view on how restoring nature actually makes our cities more resilient to the impacts of climate change.”
Sara Street, Executive Director of High Park Nature Centre
In addition to supporting critical restoration work, Cornerstone Parks will act as a backbone to connect these large urban park NGOs together to establish a forum for the exchange of knowledge and sharing of best practices. The Cornerstone Parks program will be underpinned by a rigorous impact evaluation to measure and amplify learnings about the value of large urban parks for community well-being and ecosystems.
“By working as a group, we can make a greater difference, scale up our work and tell our collective story in a way that none of us can do alone.”
Dylan Rawlyk, Executive Director at Stanley Park Ecology Society
“Cornerstone Parks recognizes we have so much to share with, and so much to learn from, our fellow non-governmental parks organizations across the country. Park People is bringing much-needed awareness to how important these green spaces are, and providing us with the necessary framework to revitalize the ecosystems.”
Hélène Panaioti, Executive director of Les amis de la montagne
The long-term vision of the program is to ensure that there is an ecologically and socially vibrant Cornerstone park within reach of every urban Canadian. Park People’s Program Director Natalie Brown says.
“Large urban parks offer so much value for cities. Park People’s providing a backbone to strengthen their work and galvanize support for more large urban parks. There’s no question that there are large-scale precious landscapes that could serve climate change and community goals. We couldn’t be more excited to help make it happen.”
Natalie Brown, Program Director at Park People
Through its National Network, Park People will identify other large parks across Canada where investments and a connection to the network will provide maximum ecological and community benefits.
With the Park People Conference quickly approaching in June, we caught up with keynote speaker Dave Meslin. Dave is a community organizer and activist and author of Teardown: Rebuilding Democracy from the Ground Up. He is the Creative Director of Unlock Democracy Canada and founder of many impactful initiatives including Toronto Public Space Committee and Cycle Toronto.
Dave Meslin: Parks and public spaces, to me, are sacred because everyone has equal access. What I love about all of our parks and our sidewalks and our alleyways is that no one gets across the street first based on which credit card they have in their wallet. So, I think there’s something beautiful and sacred about them that we need to speak up for and protect.
DM: So many aspects of my work and my belief system feel sacred to me because it’s not just about work and it’s not just about politics and votes and lobbying and legislation. It’s where I find spiritual grounding.
We’re at a time when people are increasingly turning away from organized religion. That raises the question: what replaces the rituals of gathering in synagogues, churches, mosques or temples? Where do people find spirituality, grounding and meaning with organized religion playing less of a role?
To me, public spaces are one of those places.
Something sacred is something that you feel you would be willing to defend even at personal cost. Something you would make sacrifices for. I feel that way about our public spaces. I feel that without that type of protection, they’re at risk from various forces.
DM: I think the biggest risk to public spaces and parks is actually advertising. The only reason advertisers aren’t there right now is because we have considered parks to be sacred. Let’s face it, advertisers will put their logo on anything. That is unless we declare a space as sacred, and the list of what we consider sacred is rapidly shrinking.
I could see a municipal council saying: “Well, here’s a new revenue source we can tap into. We can put digital billboards in all our parks. People go to parks. Advertisers want to reach people. They would love to reach people who enjoy nature. We could sell to advertisers to reach that target market in our parks.” The only way you fight against that is by saying: No, this is sacred space. That would be like putting a billboard in a church or in a mosque and no, we’re not doing that.”
DM: I think that the biggest hurdle a lot of people experience is believing that their ideas have value and are important enough to be worth fighting for. That their voice that is worthy of being heard. That’s the equivalent of the closed doors.
Another huge obstacle is that people just have no idea where to start. Most people don’t really grasp the difference between municipal, provincial and federal government, in terms of jurisdiction. And that’s not their fault. We don’t teach it well. It is complicated. Like, who does health care? Well, there’s a Provincial Minister of Health. There’s a Federal Minister of Health. And then municipal governments do things like long term care and daycare and harm reduction.
Also, City Hall can be an intimidating place. I talked about this in the book: there’s no one at the doors of City Hall saying, “Hi, how can I help you?” There is at Walmart. There is at the Apple Store.
That’s why getting people to join together in groups is so important. That’s why what Park People does is so important. People are more likely to make stuff happen in a group because it creates the sense that “I’m not alone.” It helps build people’s confidence. There’s strength in numbers because it’s scary to do things alone.
If you’re intimidated about something in the first place, the chance of you doing it on your own is almost zero. But the chance of a group saying, “Hey, this is something we can work towards. This is something we can organize together.” That’s like a much more appealing invitation. It’s actually revolutionary.
I really like the educational component of it. They take a small piece of the capital budget, and then divide that up among a bunch of neighbourhoods, and let the local residents decide how to spend it.
It’s a great way to build democratic experiences, but it’s also a great way to learn about municipal budgeting, and what government actually does.
One of the main roles of a council is to decide how much money to bring in and how to spend it. The best way to teach that is by giving a little bit of money to people in the community, and asking “well, what do you want to do with it?” It’s just an incredible civics class.
DM: There’s this thing called Arnstein’s Ladder. It’s one way of looking at the different levels of engagement. Essentially, the bottom rung of the ladder is token engagement. That’s where the government decides what they want to do, and then it’s a fake survey or a fake townhall. I don’t think there’s evil intent, but do I think it is a kind of arrogance. It’s municipal staff and politicians thinking they know what’s best and treating the consultation like a nice gesture. It’s not a good approach. Not only is it not democratic, but it always creates really angry people.
On the opposite end of the spectrum there’s direct democracy. That’s where ordinary people get to vote and make all of the decisions. I’m not in favour of that either. Not only do I think that people don’t want to read 200 page staff reports, but more importantly, if you created a system where everyone gets to vote, who would actually have the extra time to do that reading? It’s going to be wealthier people who have babysitters and have house cleaners. Not the folks who are doing three jobs to pay the rent and feed their kids. So what some people think is the highest level of engagement is actually incredibly inaccessible to ordinary people.
DM: I think it’s context-specific. Let’s say, there’s gonna be a redesign of a park that asks: what do we want to happen in this park? That’s the kind of thing where people who use the park and live in the park and near the park should vote on it. That’s actually an ideal opportunity for direct democracy. I feel the same about the naming of parks. I don’t think politicians should get to name parks after other politicians. It should really be up to the people who use the park.
Parks are a perfect example where direct democracy makes sense. It’s a small bite-sized level, and the decisions aren’t super complex compared to you know, a multi billion dollar operating budget of a city.
Municipalities have a moral obligation to invest real money in actively advertising opportunities for engagement beyond the usual suspects. How about actually paying people to participate? Everyone’s got a different perspective based on their age and their gender and their confidence and how they’re using the space. And I just think the city should make more of an effort to actually invest in getting those voices heard.
I think about people like my mom and my sister. Super caring, super smart people who would never be caught dead at a “town hall meeting”. They wouldn’t even know there was a town hall, let alone take the time to go to it.
But, they know so much about their parks. My mom is nervous to walk on the track in her park because there’s a place where it kind of dips down and people could hide and you wouldn’t see them. I never thought of that. It’s not something I worry about or think about. She didn’t know who to talk to, so she asked me what she could do.
If you’re trying to find the people to consult about a park, why just not go to the park? That’s what credit card companies do to get people to get their cards. They stand at the store or at the airport and solicit people. They don’t invite you to come to a meeting to talk about credit cards at a community centre. They go straight to their target audience. We should be doing the same thing. It’s not hard to find your target audience if you’re talking about parks. They’re at the park.
Really, there should never be indoor consultations about parks. The best place to talk about parks is in parks.
Over the past few years, the Montreal Park People Network has created a real impulse within Montreal’s French-speaking community, promoting community engagement in urban parks. The program Connecter les ami·es francophones des parcs canadiens [Connecting Francophone Community Park Groups] aims to spread this dynamic among francophone groups and organizations working in parks across Canada.
Coordinated by the Urban Ecology Center*, in partnership with Park People, the program aims to build strong links between community park groups, empower them, promote knowledge sharing and spread these initiatives nationally.
Benefits:
Fundraising is a great way to build the capacity of your community park group. Below are some key national grants that could help fund your next awesome park project.
At the bottom of the resource are options for more specific provincial and municipal grants.
Catherine Donnelly FoundationFunds projects that increase public support for fast and deep-reaching climate change solutions. Learn more
Climate Action and Awareness FundSupports Canadian-made projects that help to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more
Community Tree Grants CanadaOffers grants and technical support to community greening initiatives on publicly-accessible properties. Learn more
TD Park People GrantsSupports local leaders organize events focused on environmental education, sustainability, or stewardship. Learn more
EcoAction Community Funding ProgramProvides financial support to non-profit and non-government organizations for Canadian communities to take on local action-based projects that produce measurable, positive effects on the environment and to build the capacity of communities to sustain these activities in the future. Learn more
Patagonia Corporate GrantsSupports local groups that work to preserve the environment and protect local habitats and frontline communities. Learn more
Richardson FoundationOffers to fund charitable organizations that support youth initiatives and environmental issues. Learn more
Scotts Canada Gro For Good GrantsSupports community groups to develop sustainable gardens and green spaces in their communities. Learn more
TD Friends of the Environment FoundationFunds community work and park improvement projects through operating and capital grants. Learn more
Honda Canada Foundation (HCF)Funds educational institutions, charitable non-profit organizations or any national institution in the fields of family, environment, engineering and education. Learn more
Meridian Good Neighbour ProgramForges partnerships with local charities, not-for-profits, and public organizations so they can work together to meet each community’s needs. Learn more
TakingItGlobal Rising YouthSupports youth to participate in and becoming key stakeholders in strengthening global and local social movements. Learn more
Telus Community GrantFunds initiatives from Canadian registered charities that focus on local, grassroots community-based health and education programs that help youth reach their full potential. Learn more
Canadian Arts CouncilSupports professional art groups and non-profit organizations working in community parks and public spaces. Learn moreHeritage Canada – Local Festivals – Building Communities Through Arts and HeritageFunds local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists, artisans or heritage performers. This includes the celebration of LGBTQ2+ communities and Indigenous cultural celebrations. Learn more
Richardson FoundationFunds registered Canadian charitable organizations that support visual and performing arts, education, youth initiatives. Learn more
Canada Post Community FoundationSupports organizations and groups in delivering and expanding child and youth programming, including sports and healthy living initiatives. Learn more
Canadian Tire Jumpstart/Bon départ Community Development GrantThe operational stream assists organizations with operational and administrative costs. The programming stream helps organizations develop or sustain sports and recreational programming for kids in financial need and youth with disabilities. Learn more
ParticipACTION Community Better ChallengeEncourages Canadians to get active in search of Canada’s Most Active Community. Learn more
Medavie Active Living GrantEncourages access to physical activity with a focus on supporting increased participation across a population. Learn more
Indigenous Youth Roots Creation Grants Supports youth-led projects seeking to create impactful community change and increase the wellness, resiliency and engagement of Indigenous youth. Learn more
CRRF’s National Anti-Racism Fund
Strengthens the capacity of racialized communities, religious minority groups and Indigenous people to carry out their own work to combat racism and create opportunities for meaningful dialogue, learning and sharing with the broader public. Learn more
Heritage Canada – Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives ProgramProvides funding to community-based events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, promote discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination, or celebrate a community’s history and culture such as heritage months recognized by Parliament. Learn more
Hydro Flask Parks for AllSupports nonprofit organizations focused on building, maintaining, restoring, and providing more equitable access to parks. Learn more
National Healing Forest Initiative
Supports groups or organizations to develop a healing forest in their community – a dedicated forest, garden, or green space – as a place for healing, learning, sharing, and reflection about Canada’s history and the legacy of Indian residential schools. Learn more
Enabling Accessibility Fund
Provides funding to eligible capital projects that creates opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in community activities or access employment opportunities. Learn more
Communities For Gender Equality
Supports women, girl, gender-diverse and Two-Spirit-led and serving organizations to advance gender equality across the country. Learn more
Community Foundation FundsInvests in local initiatives that help to make Canadian communities better places to live, work and play. Click here to find your local Foundation.
British Columbia Grants & FundingExplore the different grants and funding dedicated to groups and organizations located in B.C. Learn more
Ontario Grants & FundingExplore the different grants and funding available for groups and organizations located in Ontario. Learn more
Grants & Funding in other ProvincesAlberta:
Nova Scotia:
New Brunswick:
Prince Edward Island:
Manitoba:
Atlantic Canada:
This case study is part of the 2023 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.
Public washrooms are a park necessity. Indeed, in our public survey, year-round public washrooms were the top amenity respondents said they would like to see more of in parks. They are also an essential part of a human rights approach to park design—an increasingly important lens as many cities continue to grapple with a houselessness crisis.
But ensuring washrooms are accessible, safe, and well-maintained is a challenge for many cities.
In Edmonton, the city is tackling these challenges head-on through experimenting with creative approaches to enhance washroom provision, safety, and upkeep.
One of the city’s most successful initiatives is the washroom attendant program, which sees staff hired to monitor and maintain public washrooms in locations with significant safety concerns. Staff are hired in partnership with Hiregood, a local social enterprise that provides employment opportunities to those who have lived experience of houselessness and poverty and may face barriers in the job market.
First launched as a 3-month pilot in December 2019, the program has since expanded from 3 to 12 sites, employing approximately 100 full-time and part-time staff. While the first locations were in parks and public spaces, the attendant program now operates in select Edmonton libraries and transit stations as well.
“We had some washrooms that you’d be scared to go and use. But now, because you have folks monitoring and supervising the washroom, there’s been a remarkable improvement in terms of safety and cleanliness.”
Samson Awopeju, Program Manager of the Public Washrooms Strategy at the City of Edmonton.
In addition to washroom maintenance, attendants are trained in de-escalation and equipped with harm reduction supplies. There have been fewer overdoses at sites with attendants, Awopeju noted, and in some locations the overall improvement in safety has been so marked that there is reduced police presence in the area.
Another unexpected benefit of the program was that Edmonton was able to keep its washrooms open during the early days of the pandemic, when many cities were shutting their doors.
These benefits have inspired Calgary to launch its own version modeled after Edmonton’s, with washroom attendants currently being piloted in two downtown parks.
In addition to making existing washrooms more inviting through the attendant program, the city is also testing creative approaches to expand washroom access across the city.
This year, Edmonton launched a new granting program for non-profits and businesses to expand washroom access. The $5000 grants, many of which were awarded to community leagues that operate park programming, can be used to install portable toilets or cover increased maintenance costs for businesses that open their washrooms to the broader public beyond paying customers.
“It’s just financially not possible to put washrooms everywhere. And in such locations, that’s where we want to encourage businesses or community organizations to help.”
All of these initiatives feed into the city’s forthcoming Public Washroom Strategy, set to be released in early 2024. The strategy will include demographic mapping to help identify areas in the city where washroom investments should be prioritized.
The goal, as Awopeju puts it, is “to make sure that everybody has access to washrooms, regardless of who you are.”
Canadian municipalities are feeling squeezed on parks. Years of tight operating budgets require parks departments to stretch already thin dollars further as pressures grow from higher use, while land has become much more expensive to acquire—if you can even find a suitable parcel anymore.
One tempting tool in the face of these challenges is privately-owned public spaces, more commonly known as POPS. These spaces are built through private development and remain privately owned and maintained—seemingly a win-win for cities finding it difficult to provide public space and pay for upkeep.
For years there has been pressure by developers for municipalities to accept POPS as satisfying parkland dedication requirements required for new developments—a policy that some municipalities have resisted.
One park planning manager pointed out that while POPS have their role in providing open space, they are not equivalent to public parkland and it’s important for cities to push developers for the conveyance of land for public parks.
To better guide the role of POPS, Toronto mapped over 170 locations and created POPS design guidelines and a signage strategy to ensure spaces were inviting and clearly labeled as public. Vancouver also mapped POPS locations in relation to downtown parks and public plazas as part of their Downtown Public Space Strategy. The Strategy contains actions including developing a policy framework for acquiring new POPS and ensuring spaces “are designed and programmed to be publicly-accessible and welcoming to all users.”
Some cities like Newmarket, Brampton and Vaughan allow for some level of credit for POPS towards parkland dedication. Vaughan, which recently concluded a study exploring parkland dedication policies, ultimately approved a by-law change to allow for 100% credit for POPS, subject to council approval.
Park managers are, however, cautious regarding POPS. If public space is about the creation of accessible, democratic and open spaces, one park manager argued, then privatizing space seems to be contradictory as it comes with “tangible or intangible restrictions” such as limitations on uses, active surveillance, and likely commercial intentions. Where they can be helpful and critical, he said, is in the creation of pedestrian connectivity through private developments or supporting, but not replacing, a publicly owned open space network.
In Brampton, the city allows a 50% credit for POPS.
“In dense areas, you’re not going to get a community or neighbourhood park, so you need a more collaborative approach with the owners of the land and the city.”
Jaskiran Kaur Bajwa, Brampton Park Planning Supervisor
But the city is still cautious about their use and is working on POPS guidelines. “POPS need to contribute to the community,” Brampton’s former Manager of Park Planning and Development Werner Kuemmling said.
They can’t just be an open space or thoroughfare. They have to be functionally used.” Some developers propose POPS as the leftover sites in their developments “and that’s not okay.
Werner Kuemmling, Brampton’s former Manager of Park Planning and Development
When your park group’s events, programs, or advocacy activities get featured in the media, it can boost your visibility, attract more volunteers, and even rally support for park improvements.
Local newspapers, radio stations, blogs, and podcasts are always on the lookout for interesting stories. With the right hook and approach, your group can land valuable media coverage! Here’s how to make it happen.
Build a list of journalists and media outlets that cover local news events or the focus issues that your park group is seeking to amplify.
You can maximize your media opportunities by tailoring a single pitch for different outlets. For example, let’s say you’re launching a new community garden program:
Timing is everything when pitching to the media. Different outlets have varying lead times, so it’s essential to plan accordingly:
Pro Tip: Tie your pitch to seasonal themes like spring cleanups, summer picnics, fall festivals, or winter activities to make it timely and relevant.
Most journalists prefer email, so your subject line and opening paragraph are crucial. Be concise, clear, and compelling. Your email should answer these questions:
Include a photo or a link to visuals. Before-and-after photos of park improvements or images of community members in action are especially effective.
The easier you make it for journalists to cover your story, the better your chances of getting featured. Think about how you can offer the following:
If you don’t hear back from a journalist, send them a polite follow-up email:
Don’t sweat it if you don’t hear back about your follow-up. Instead of emailing them again, take the opportunity to revisit your pitch. Could it be more engaging or relevant? Experiment with different angles to refine your message in the future.
Media relationships take time to build. Stay proactive by sharing updates about your park group regularly. This keeps your organization on their radar for future stories.
With these practical tips, your park group can secure meaningful media coverage, amplify your efforts, and inspire your community to take part in creating better parks for everyone!
Pumpkin parades are a creative way to celebrate local creativity and give carved jack-o’-lanterns a second life.
Usually held the next evening after Halloween, pumpkin parades encourage neighbours to light up local pathways and parks in a stunning display of community spirit. Free, family-friendly, and great for photos, these parades also encourage sustainability as volunteers arrange to compost submissions after the parade is over.
Pumpkin parades are also a made-in-Canada phenomenon! Back in 2004, the Friends of Sorauren Park kicked off the trend when they organized local residents to publicly display their creations in the park. From about 100 pumpkins in that first year to over 3,000 today—and with copycat parades now being held across the continent—the pumpkin parade is here to stay.
Ready to turn your own park or neighborhood into a glowing showcase? Here’s a step-by-step guide to make your pumpkin parade a smashing success.
Take a walk around the park with your community park group to choose the best route for your pumpkin parade. It can be hard to predict how many jack-o-lanterns will be part of your parade in the first year, so make sure you have the flexibility to make the path longer if necessary. Keep wheelchair and stroller accessibility in mind, and find opportunities to place pumpkins on different levels for optimum visibility.
Most park events of this size require a permit. In Toronto, there’s even a special Pumpkin Parade permit which makes the compost process simple and affordable. Check with your municipality or parks department to see if you require a permit or special insurance.
For effective (and free!) promotions, use social media to post in neighbourhood groups and email community centers, elementary schools, local businesses, and your city councillor asking them to spread the word through their own newsletters, bulletin boards, and social accounts. Put up posters in high-traffic areas like libraries, coffee shops, and grocery stores, and distribute flyers at local events leading up to the parade. Engage local media outlets—like newspapers, radio stations, and blogs—to feature the event in their community calendars. Finally, invite community members to help with promotion by tagging friends or sharing photos of their pumpkins as they prepare for the big night. The more people feel connected to the event, the more excitement and turnout you’ll generate!
You’ll need a few helping hands to prepare a great parade. Schedule a few volunteers to arrive early to get the pathway started and help people place their pumpkins. Community members can drop off jack-o-lanterns earlier than you might expect, with the after-school period being the most convenient time for many. Our park group experts advise groups to be on-site by 3:30pm.Volunteers can also distribute candles and help to light (and re-light) jack-o-lanterns throughout the night. Finally, you’ll want to have volunteers set up a table to collect sign-ups for your e-newsletter and ask people if they want to sign on to volunteer for next year’s Pumpkin Parade.
Will you clean up the park the night of the Parade or the next morning? Either way, you’ll need lots of volunteers with wheelbarrows or wagons to efficiently move the pumpkins from the ground to the compost bin, and to remove all of the candles from the jack-o-lanterns. The City of Toronto supports this effort by providing organic waste bins, and the pumpkins are turned into compost that can be used in parks and gardens throughout the city.
Make sure to let people know what to bring and what time to gather.
Food is a great way to bring people together in parks! Adding an outdoor picnic to events like a park stewardship day or a harvest festival can make the experience even more enjoyable.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you plan a successful event—from securing permits to post-picnic cleanup.
When selecting your location, think about accessibility, proximity to parking or transit, and amenities like restrooms, water fountains, and shade. Read our resource on making your event accessible and inclusive to help guide your thinking.Once you’ve picked the perfect spot, research your park’s rules and regulations. Many parks require permits for group events, especially if you’ll be reserving picnic tables, bringing grills, or hosting activities.Here’s a general guide, but note: regulations will vary depending on the city you live in. Contact your local parks department to confirm requirements and apply for permits well in advance.
Learn more about events permits in the following cities:
Keep the menu simple, portable, and easy to serve. Finger foods like sandwiches, wraps, and fruit skewers work perfectly. If grilling is allowed, burgers, hot dogs, or veggie options can elevate your picnic. Provide plenty of water and refreshing drinks, and don’t forget desserts like cookies or cupcakes! Bring coolers or insulated bags to keep perishables fresh and ensure food safety.
You’ll also want to provide diverse food options to accommodate different dietary needs and preferences—such as vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, halal and kosher options. Be sure to clearly label ingredients and allergens at the event.
Note: If you’re advertising your picnic as open to the public and are serving or selling food, you may be required to contact your local Public Health Authority and fill out a Temporary Food Establishment Application as part of your Special Event Permit.Only food that’s prepared in an inspected kitchen (a commercial kitchen or a community kitchen) can be served to the general public. If you’re not buying prepared food, or do not have access to this type of kitchen, consider encouraging community members to bring their own picnic basket of homemade food. The experience of eating together, rather than sharing food, can help you get around some permit hurdles.
Bonus tip: There are some foods that are considered lower risk foods. Focus on them to keep your application and health inspection simple.
A successful park picnic is more than just food—it’s about the fun! Think about activities that can engage attendees of all ages. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Once your permit has been approved and your agenda is planned, it’s time to let your community know about the picnic!
A good picnic leaves the park as beautiful as it was before. Encourage attendees to clean up by providing designated trash and recycling bags. Enlist a few volunteers to help with final cleanup efforts, ensuring that nothing is left behind. If compost bins are available, separate food scraps appropriately. Consider adding a “Leave No Trace” message to your promotions to emphasize sustainability, and encourage participants to bring and use reusable plates and utensils.
Read our resource on how to plan a zero-waste event in your park.
A community picnic is a great way to start a local community park group or find new volunteers for an already established one.Collect people’s email addresses on the day of the picnic so you can follow-up with them on future park activities, and talk to people about what other events they would like to see in the park. A movie night? Nature walk? Community garden? The sky’s the limit!