adopting an urban park with community partners final
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Adopting an Urban Park with Community Partners
Presenters:•Robin Jensen•Glenda Hairston•Christy Deatherage•Denny Casey
J. Frank Wilson Memorial Park, an urban community park
• 30 acre City of Martinsville park
• A variety of community neighbors
• Recreational and natural amenities
Why did we get involved?
• Improve the park’s reputation• Be good neighbors• Increase the value of the park as a community and
educational destination
International Coastal Cleanup/Clean Virginia Waterways
• Annual Community Clean-ups since 2007.• Over five years, we’ve gathered almost 1,000 lbs of trash.• Volunteer and partner involvement expands each year.
→ www.longwood.edu/cleanva/iccva.htm
Trails
Water Resources Management
Cleaning out culverts
Erosion control
•Butterfly garden•Invasive species removal•Reusing natural resources
Friends Group: Involvement of Neighborhood
Volunteers
The Mission of the Friends of Wilson Park is to promote stewardship,interpretation, and conservation of the Park’s natural and cultural resources.
Friends of Wilson Park
Goals: •Protect the ecological health;•Enhance the Park’s natural setting; •Attract tourists and community members; •Develop programming; •Interpret the Park’s natural and cultural history; and, •Provide a model for 1) civic cooperation, 2) sustainable urban park planning, and 3) best green practices.
Gathering the group•Group Facebook page
•Newspaper Calendar listings
•Flyers
VMNH and the Park
We have developed a variety of programs and initiatives focused on the park.
• Museum visitors and outreach programs– VMNH provides at-the-museum programming in
addition to programming in the park to visiting school groups.
VMNH and the Park
Museum visitors and outreach programs– Sample VMNH outdoor programs:• Stream Study• GPS Challenge/Orienteering• Exploring Nature
VMNH and the Park
Out-of-school programming– After school• Martinsville/Henry County After 3
VMNH and the Park
Out-of-school programming– After school• Upward Bound
VMNH and the Park
Out-of-school programming– Summer Adventure Camps• Water Journeys Camp• Girl Scientists Rock!• Doodle Bugs
VMNH and the Park
VMNH Earth Day Student Day
VMNH and the Park
Multi-year, grant-funded, community-centered project aimed at providing a full range of outdoor, nature-inspired programs.
VMNH and the Park
VMNH Outdoor Fun Festival
VMNH and the ParkWilson Park Tree
Inventory
VMNH and the Park
Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences Grant
VMNH and the Park
Keep Virginia Beautiful Program Grant
VMNH and the Park
Earning Volunteer Hours in the Park
Six Approved Service Projects in the Park:– Citizen Science – Stewardship– Education
– 20 member participation– Over 400 hours in 4 years
Citizen Science
Assist with Wildlife Survey
Stewardship
Park clean-up/green-ups Park beautification
Education
Junior Naturalist Summer Camp
Things to keep in mind
• Community calendars (avoid pulling from the same volunteers on the same day)
• Coordinate with parks department• Cross promote events with other service
organizations.• Use media (newspaper, Facebook, etc.) to help
raise community awareness
Ideas?
• Locations in your community• Getting in touch with community needs• Possible partners and local/state resources• Sources of funding
Q & A
• Any questions or comments?
• After a short break (10 minutes), we’ll walk to Wilson Park to continue the session.
Contact information:Robin Jensenrobin.jensen@vmnh.virginia.gov(276)634-4188
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