Park Pride Inc

TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES TO ACTIVATE THE POWER OF PARKS.

COMMUNITY BUILDING/FRIENDS OF THE PARK -- PARK PRIDE'S SERVICES START WITH A FRIENDS OF THE PARK (FOP) GROUP, A TEAM OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WORKING TO IMPROVE ONE OR MORE PARKS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES RESOURCES AND BUILDS INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND COMMUNITY CAPACITY ENABLING RESIDENTS TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITY PARKS.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS -- PARK PRIDE'S GRANTMAKING PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY LED IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCAL PARKS. IN 2021, $1.33 MILLION WAS AWARDED FOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN 29 PARKS.THROUGH OUR FISCAL SPONSOR PROGRAM, PARK PRIDE PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE AND FISCAL OVERSIGHT FOR COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR PARK IMPROVEMENT AND ACTIVATION PROJECTS.IN ADDITION TO REVITALIZING EXISTING PARKS, PARK PRIDE ALSO WORKS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO GREENSPACE ACROSS THE CITY. IN 2021, THESE EFFORTS CENTERED ON CONSTRUCTION OF MATTIE FREELAND PARK, TRANSFORMING A BLIGHTED LOT INTO A MUCH-NEEDED PARK IN THE ENGLISH AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD.

PARK VISIONING -- EACH YEAR, PARK PRIDE GUIDES FOUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS SPANNING SEVERAL MONTHS THAT CONVERTS THAT COMMUNITY'S IDEAS AND DREAMS INTO A CONCEPTUAL VISION. THIS PLAN CAN THEN BE USED BY COMMUNITY GROUPS TO FUNDRAISE AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR DESIRED IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARK.PARK PRIDE CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIP IN THE ATLANTA COMMUNITY SCHOOLYARDS PROJECT- A PILOT PROJECT TO REVITALIZE AND OPEN SCHOOLYARDS TO COMMUNITIES DURING NON-SCHOOL HOURS IN AREAS OF THE CITY WHERE RESIDENTS DO NOT LIVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF A PARK. IN 2020, CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED ON THE RENOVATED GREEN SCHOOLYARD AT COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY IN DEKALB COUNTY.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATIONPARK PRIDE HOSTS AN ANNUAL PARKS & GREENSPACE CONFERENCE, THE LARGEST PARKS CONFERENCE IN THE SOUTHEAST, SHOWCASING THOUGHT LEADERS FROM ATLANTA AND ACROSS THE NATION.ACTIVATE ATLIN 2020, ATLANTA'S DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION (DPR) KICKED OFF AN EFFORT TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, INVITING PARK PRIDE TO COORDINATE THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. PRIDE COORDINATED THE MOST ROBUST AND INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT EFFORT EVER UNDERTAKEN BY DPR. THE PLAN, ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL IN DECEMBER OF 2021, WILL SERVE AS A GUIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEM IN THE YEARS TO COME.VOLUNTEER PROGRAMIN 2021, PARK PRIDE LED OR PROVIDED ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT TO 98 VOLUNTEER PROJECTS ACROSS OUR SERVICE AREA.IN ADDITION TO BRINGING IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS TO PARKS, THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM CONNECTS CORPORATIONS, COLLEGES, AND CIVIC GROUPS TO THE COMMUNITY, THEREBY INCREASING ENGAGEMENT AND AWARENESS, AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.