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