About the People for Parks Fund

Founded in 1977, People for Parks merged with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation in 2020 to carry forward a legacy of grassroots support for Minneapolis parks through grants, fundraising events, and bench and paver sales. The People for Parks Fund exists to advance projects and programs in Minneapolis parks and to serve as the catalyst for connecting community-driven ideas and funding that nurture stewardship, community, and enjoyment of Minneapolis parks.

People for Parks Fund Grants

Since its start, the People for Parks Fund has delivered over $300,000 worth of grant support for community-driven ideas for improving parks access, breaking down barriers, and making sure everyone sees themselves reflected in our parks system. The People for Parks Fund has supported more than 60 projects and activities across Minneapolis city parks, including youth swimming and snowboarding lessons, bird watching for BIPOC adults, Slow Roll community bike rides, Afro Cardio/Yoga classes, and much more. Discover all the People for Parks Fund grantees and learn more about their impact by clicking on the pins in the map below.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation’s People for Parks Fund is proud to support 15 community-led projects that foster connection, wellness, culture, stewardship, and belonging across Minneapolis parks this year. From nature-inspired writing workshops at Currie Park to introducing children and veterans to sailing on Bde Maka Ska, this year’s grantees are creating new opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with nature and with one another. Congratulations to the 2026 People for Parks Fund grantees who are doing to the work to make Minneapolis parks more welcoming, vibrant, and accessible for all.

Discover all of the amazing projects and programs funded in 2026, here!

Please check back in February 2027 to learn more about the next cycle of grant opportunities! To learn about our grant making guidelines, check out the People for Parks Fund Grant Criteria and Policies.

People for Parks Fund Advisory Committee

The People for Parks Fund Advisory Committee recommends and guides the annual process for setting grant priorities, a timeline for seeking proposals, distributing grants, methods for tracking results, and capturing stories about the impact of each grant. The Advisory Committee also works with volunteers to produce Fund-supporting events.

Current Advisory Committee Members
Kelsey Johnson – Committee Chair
Kristen Cooper
Jay Halvorson
Colleen Hogenson
Judy Hohmann
Irene Jones
Kymberly Jordan
Nate Kass
Ali Lozoff
Daniel Peterson
Jasmine Russell
Jace Schara
Colleen Stockmann
Lisa Stockmo
Shaun Walsh

Fundraising Activities

Proceeds from the Fund’s signature fundraising event and bench and paver sales help support the grant program.

Posters for Parks Show
The show is a free and family-friendly event that features limited-edition posters created by local artists and designers, inspired by Minneapolis’ award-winning park system. Posters for Parks is an annual event each October and is joint venture with LoveMplsParks.org. 

Save the date: October 11, 2025 at the Minnehaha Park Pavilion next to Sea Salt Eatery. Join us in celebrating art and parks, as 40+ local artists showcase their love of Minneapolis parks and green spaces through this annual posters showcase. The in-person event, will be followed by a week of online poster sales. Keep an eye on our Events Page for upcoming details and registration information.

Bench and Paver Sales
All memorial benches and pavers within our program are placed at the Lake Harriet Bandshell or near Bde Maka Ska. Proceeds from memorial bench and paver orders go directly into supporting the People for Parks Fund. Information on prices, sizing, and message length, can be found here: Order a Bench or Paver

All other memorial benches around Lake Harriet and throughout Minneapolis parks are managed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Their information can be found here or by calling customer service at 612.230.6400.

Past People for Parks Fund Grantees (2021-2025)

Since introducing the program in 2021, we’ve granted nearly $250,000 for 44 projects and activities across Minneapolis city parks. including youth swimming and snowboarding lessons, bird watching for BIPOC adults, Slow Roll community bike rides, and Afro Cardio/Yoga classes, and much more.

Past grantees have included: Armatage Neighborhood Association, Cultural Wellness Center, Heritage Youth Sports Foundation/Twin Cities Sol Futsol Academy, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, Friends of Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Minneapolis Sailing Center, The Loppet Foundation, Urban Bird Collective, Baztec Outdoors, Folwell Neighborhood Association, Huellas Latinas, Minneapolis Sailing Club, Minneapolis Southwest High School Performing Arts, Mississippi Park Connection, StartAnew, Minnesota Streetcar Museum, Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute, Great Northern Greenway, and Urban Strategies.

To read stories and see more photos from these grantees, please visit our blog Common Ground.
To see where all of these projects and programs took place and learn more about their impact, check out this interactive map.