Anchorage Park Foundation

BUILDS HEALTHY PARKS AND HEALTHY PEOPLE BY MOBILIZING PUBLIC SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

THE ANCHORAGE PARK FOUNDATION FACILITATES PARK IMPROVEMENTS DRIVEN BY NEIGHBORHOOD, FUNDER, VOLUNTEER AND PARK-USER GROUP INITIATIVE. OUR CORE PROGRAMS INCLUDE:COMMUNITY CHALLENGE GRANTS - WE LEVERAGE PRIVATE FUNDING AND AWARD CHALLENGE GRANTS FOR MUNICIPAL PARK AND TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS. CHALLENGE GRANTS SHOW TRUE NEIGHBOR POWER BY ENGAGING PASSIONATE GROUPS TO PARTICIPATE IN IMPROVING PARKS AND TRAILS, WHICH INCREASES COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP. PROJECTS RECEIVE A ONE-TO-ONE CASH GRANT MATCH FOR GRANTEE-COORDINATED VOLUNTEER LABOR, IN-KIND DONATIONS AND FUND RAISED.NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS - WE PARTNER WITH THE PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR PARK FIX-ITS IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. PARKS ARE SELECTED FOR IMPROVEMENTS BASED ON INFORMATION COLLECTED THROUGH PARK REPORT CARDS FILLED OUT BY COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS. EACH SUMMER SEVERAL PARKS ARE IDENTIFIED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD FIX-ITS, SATURDAY MORNINGS THAT NEIGHBORS, COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, STAFF AND LOCAL CONTRACTORS WORK TOGETHER TO REVITALIZE PARKS. FROM REPLACING TRASH CANS AND PLAY EQUIPMENT TO RESTORING LANDSCAPING AND REMOVING GRAFFITI, WE GIVE PARKS A LASTING NEW LIFE.YOUTH EMPLOYMENT IN PARKS -YOUTH EMPLOYMENT IN PARKS POSITIVELY ENGAGES A NEW GENERATION OF DIVERSE YOUNG LEADERS AGED 16-19 AS CONSERVATION STEWARDS OF PUBLIC LANDS AND OF THE ANCHORAGE COMMUNITY THROUGH MEANINGFUL JOB TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION. YEP IS A 10-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM THAT HIRES ANCHORAGE TEENS TO COMPLETE PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. TEENS LEARN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT JOB SKILLS BY BUILDING TRAILS AND RESTORING STREAM BANKS WHILE ENGAGING IN EDUCATION THAT INCREASES CIVIC MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL, AWARENESS, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. INCLUSIVE PLAY - WE BELIEVE THAT NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES AND WATCH THEIR PEERS PLAY. LEVERAGING THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THROUGH INCLUSIVE PLAY, WE CREATE OUTDOOR SPACES WHERE CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF ALL ABILITIES CAN PLAY TOGETHER. WE WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO PLAN AND DEVELOP EVEN MORE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUNDS IN ANCHORAGE.SCHOOLS ON TRAILS - SCHOOLS ON TRAILS CONNECTS STUDENTS TO THE WORLD OUTSIDE THEIR CLASSROOM BY RAISING AWARENESS OF TRAILS, PARKS, AND STREAMS AND NATURAL HABITATS NEAR ANCHORAGE SCHOOLS. THESE NEARBY PUBLIC GREENSPACES ENCOURAGE OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. WE WORK WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHERS, STAFF AND STUDENTS IN CREATION, PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS LIKE OUTDOOR EDUCATION LEARNING LABS OR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.HEALTH ON TRAILS - WE ORGANIZE COMMUNITY GROUPS AND LEAD LOCAL INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMMING FOR PUBLIC WELLNESS AND HEALTH, INCLUDING PARK PRESCRIPTIONS, WALKS WITH A DOC, AND COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND FITNESS MAPS.ANCHORAGE TRAILS INITIATIVE - WE ARE THE COMMUNITY LEAD FOR ANCHORAGE'S LIVE.WORK.PLAY. COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS TOWARD TRAILS, IMPLEMENTING CONNECTIONS, FACILITIES, SAFETY AND WAYFINDING IMPROVEMENTS TO ANCHORAGE'S 250+ MILES OF MAINTAINED MUNICIPAL TRAILS.