Join a Love Jackson Parks Group
Parham Bridges Park
City parks play a vital role in the social, economic, and physical well-being of city residents. They provide access to recreational opportunities, increase property values, combat crime, and help achieve equity goals. To strengthen Jackson’s city parks, JAN is seeking volunteers to join or start a “Friends of” Jackson Parks group. The tight-knit relationship between a local park and its friends group allows a unique opportunity to interact with the surrounding community to enhance a park’s overall experience for neighbors and visitors.
Joining or starting a Friends of the Park group has many benefits, such as allowing neighbors to meet and interact and creating a unified voice for the park. The impact of a friend group can be seen and felt by the surrounding neighborhood and neighbors can expect a more vibrant park once a group is active. JAN has formulated suggestions for how groups should get started. Please note that these suggestions are not the only methods for creating a well-rounded “Friends of” group.
Connect with the surrounding community and invite people to join the group. Contact stakeholders in adjacent neighborhoods, businesses, community organizations, and churches. Look for people who are interested in parks. This may require planning an event first instead of waiting until step 5.
Conduct a mini "walk and talk" of the park to identify any repairs, upgrades or changes needed. A brief and productive walk through the park will help a group identify a park’s assets and liabilities. Contact JAN if you want a representative to join the walk and talk.
Set up a meeting with the City of Jackson Parks and Recreation Department to provide community feedback based on the “walk and talk.” It is important to share the concerns and desires of residents with Parks and Recreation once they have been identified by residents. JAN can help facilitate this, if necessary.
Organize a cleanup. Community cleanups are an important key to maintaining the health and appeal of neighborhoods, parks, and the overall environment. They also empower local change and foster strong connections between residents. JAN has outlined steps to planning a community cleanup with Keep Jackson Beautiful. Read this blog for more information.
Plan events at the park. Host a food truck day, sporting event, or vendor fair to unite the community. Contact the City of Jackson Parks and Recreation Department to register and plan events.
Create a park plan. This plan can be used as a roadmap for the group’s future. Determine what the city is capable of addressing based on walk and talk feedback and conversations with Parks and Recreation. This will help the group assess costs for upgrades and fundraising options.
Consider fundraising options. Do you have to take donations for your project? Larger donors and grantmakers will want to donate or grant to a 501c3 organization. Consider your options, from starting a 501c3, which is more labor-intensive, or contacting the Community Foundation for Mississippi about the possibility of a fiscal sponsorship or other options.
Keep going! Host periodic events, cleanups, and fundraising activities focused on the park while remaining open to partnering with stakeholders like neighborhood groups, businesses, community organizations, churches, and residents.
Visit our Love Jackson Parks page for more information on parks and to sign up or start a Friends of the Park group.
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