JOIN OUR MOVEMENT
We believe that parks change lives by empowering communities to play, celebrate, recharge and engage. Every Oaklander and every Oakland community should have access to the transformative experiences that can only happen in parks.
What fuels your passion for parks? Many of you tell us about celebrating birthdays at Lake Merritt, finding mentorship at a neighborhood recreation center or finding peace among the redwoods. Connections made during childhood mature during carefree summers at camp and deepen while watching your own kids at the playground.
Join us as we lead a new wave of civic investment in our parks. Oakland thrives through its vitality, inclusivity and resilience with a beloved parks system that catalyzes equity and nurtures joy among its residents. Together, we can change individual lives and build a stronger, more connected future for us all.
The Need
Our surveys convey the importance of access to ample, well-maintained, safe and actively-used parks. Parks are essential to a thriving city because they increase health, safety, youth engagement and environmental resilience, making them instruments of equity, inclusion, and social justice. Alarmingly, however, in Oakland there exists a critical gap in community park access, predominantly along the lines of race and class. This is not only a shortfall in the care for our parks, but also in the benefits that our parks provide to Oakland residents.
Our Vision
We envision a future where every park and recreation center in Oakland is well-maintained, safe, equitably-utilized and loved. Our surveys show that Oakland is inseparable from its parks – the future of parks and the future of Oakland are entwined for a vibrant, resilient and livable Oakland. When it comes to a vision for their parks, Oaklanders speak with a shared voice – across race, class, age and neighborhood – for quality parks and recreation programs that empower them to play, celebrate, recharge and engage.
Our Solution
We are the go-to partner for activating, building and championing Oakland’s parks and recreation system. We make equitable investments through a well-established process of advocacy, partnership, fundraising and project execution. We conduct community surveys to identify needs, then work with our network of 100+ municipal and community groups to form sustainable public-private partnerships. We raise money from public and private sources to provide funding and contribute project administration expertise to bring programs to fruition in the community.
Our Platform
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit that secures, manages and invests funds primarily in support of Oakland Parks, Recreation and Youth Development. Founded in 1981, we have 40 years of experience executing programs requiring expertise, civic relationships and community outreach. Our resources include a skilled staff and board, a formal MOU with the City of Oakland, a network of 100+ community groups, mailing lists with over 4,000 subscribers and over $1.5 million under management for Oakland’s benefit. Our work is grounded in a commitment to social and environmental justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.
Our Impact
Our programs create a lasting community impact with a leveraged return on investment across the areas of Advocacy, Community Partnership, Park Activation and Scholarships. During the COVID-19 pandemic, every $1 we have raised has resulted in $5 of investment in Oakland’s parks and recreation system.
$1.5MM
2020-21
Community Partners
$3.6MM
2020-21
Park Activation
$341K
2020-21
Scholarships
Join Us
Join us as we make equitable investments in Oakland’s parks and programs. Together, we can build a stronger, more connected future for all Oaklanders.
While you are with us today, find your neighborhood park. Learn more about our advocacy work, community partners, park activation projects and youth scholarship programs. Explore ways you can give, support our partners, volunteer and become a corporate sponsor.
Before you leave, subscribe to our email newsletter and, of course, please make a donation to make our work possible. Thank you for joining our community of park supporters.
