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.
Join the People for Parks Fund Advisory Committee
Applications are now open to apply to join the Minneapolis Parks Foundation’s People for Parks Fund Advisory Committee. This 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
Miluska Novota – Committee Chair
Zak Aden
Marisa Bhargava
Sarah Duniway
Jay Halvorson
Judy Hohmann
Kelsey Johnson
Irene Jones
Kymberly Jordan
Daniel Peterson
Jennifer Herman Spiller
Fundraising Activities
Proceeds from the Fund’s signature fundraising event and bench and paver sales help support the grants 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.
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.
People for Parks Fund Grants
Got a Great Idea for the Great Outdoors?
Since its start four years ago, the People for Parks Fund has delivered nearly $200,000 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. Check out our People for Parks Fund Grant Criteria to learn more about our grant making guidelines, as well as our Grant FAQ’s and applications below, which detail grant requirements and the easy application process.
The 2024 application window has closed. Please check back in February of 2025 for our next grant cycle.
2023 People for Parks Fund Grantees
This year, we’ve made 11 grants totaling $57,570 through the Minneapolis Parks Foundation’s People for Parks Fund. Eight organizations were selected from a pool of 44 applicants to receive support in 2023: Baztec Outdoors, Folwell Neighborhood Association, Huellas Latinas, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Minneapolis Sailing Club, Minneapolis Southwest High School Performing Arts, Mississippi Park Connection, and Urban Strategies. For details about the projects and activities being supported, please read the announcement.
To read stories and see more photos from these grantees, please visit our blog Common Ground.
Past People for Parks Fund Grantees (2021-2022)
Since introducing the program in 2021, we’ve granted over $80,000 for 15 projects and activities, 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.
History of People for Parks
Founded in 1977, People for Parks identified and directed $2.5 million to Minneapolis parks through grant making, fundraising events, and fiscal agency during its 42-year history. Its work originated with Dutch elm disease and grew to include support for the Lake Harriet Band Shell rehabilitation, Wabun universal access play area (the first of its kind in Minneapolis), and the nature playscape at North Mississippi Regional Park. In 2020, People for Parks consolidated with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation.
People for Parks History (pdf)
