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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.

Park People partners with the Toronto Arts Foundation to help deliver its signature Arts in the Parks program.

Arts in the Parks brings free, family-friendly arts events and activities to parks outside Toronto’s downtown core. Offerings include theatre performance, music concerts, film screenings and workshops for children, families, and neighbours.

Park People helps to facilitate strong relationships between artists and community park groups in green spaces across the city, and we support outreach efforts to our network of over 3,500 park enthusiasts. 

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urban parks animated with dynamic activities in Toronto

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artist-produced events in parks

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participants in neighbourhoods across the city

Find all of Arts in the Parks events here: www.artsintheparksto.org

Helping build 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!

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grants awarded every year

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community events organized every year

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people connected yearly

The Application for the 2024 TD Park People Grants is closed. Applications for the 2025 edition will open in January 2025.

2024 Key Dates

Jan 8 2024

Applications open

Feb 27 2024

Applications close

April 2024

Notification to grants recipients

May 2024

Distribution of funds

April 22 to Dec 31, 2024

Park events period

Oct 2024

Project report due

Eligibility

  • Grassroots community groups include, but are not limited to, volunteer-based park groups, local agencies, resident associations, and not-for-profit groups active in their local parks. 
  • Partnerships of any or all of the above are encouraged to apply. 
  • Your group must also demonstrate its ability to sustain the group beyond this grant cycle.
  • Groups should demonstrate their commitment to caring for the park. 

In 2024, the TD Park People Grants extends to 21 urban areas across Canada: 

  • British Columbia: Metro Vancouver, Kelowna, Saanich, Township of Langley
  • Alberta: Calgary, Edmonton Metropolitan Region, Lethbridge
  • Saskatchewan:  Regina, Saskatoon,
  • Manitoba: Winnipeg, Brandon,
  • 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.

Equity-deserving and equity-denied groups will be prioritized in the application process. A minimum of 50% of all microgrants will be provided to those identifying as such, ensuring their involvement in shaping the natural spaces that matter to them. 

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

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.
  • Priority will be given to equity-deserving or equity-denied communities (at least 50% of grants). These may include but are not limited to Black, Indigenous and people of colour communities, disabled persons or people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+, newcomers, women and non-binary people, 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
  • How many people do the events aim to reach
  • 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.

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

  • You can help raise awareness on environmental issues, such as climate change, or teach your community about the local environment by hosting a nature walk. 
  • Your group can demonstrate an environmental focus by committing to sustainability practices, such as ensuring your event is zero-waste or hosting a bike repair clinic or clothing swap. 
  • Stewardship activities could include park cleanups, planting and gardening, invasive species removal, and other projects that enhance your local green space.

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

The application form should take about 2 hours to complete once you’ve planned your events. You can request a sample PDF of the application form by email to help you prepare the application. Here is a preview of the questions:

  • Describe your group or organization, and indicate if your group is from an equity-deserving or equity-denied 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.

Yes, grassroots community groups and small community-based organizations are eligible. These groups are not required to have a trustee or have charitable status. In the case of smaller or newly formed groups who do not have event planning experience, we strongly suggest collaborating with a local organization that does. Grassroots community groups representing diverse communities or neighbourhoods are especially encouraged to apply.

We define equity-deserving and equity-denied communities as those that, because of systemic discrimination, face barriers that prevent them from having the same access to the resources and opportunities available to 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, 2SLGBTQ+, newcomers, women and non-binary people, and low-income people.  We prioritize equity-deserving groups in our granting to address the inequitable distribution of resources within the parks sector. Some cities have specific geographic areas indicated, including Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas or Montreal’s Integrated Urban Revitalization zones*.