Local communities across Canberra are being encouraged to ‘adopt a park’ as a way of maintaining and making use of open spaces in the city’s suburbs.
Minister for City Services, Chris Steel said the Government was providing new grants to encourage local residents and volunteer groups help the community care for their urban spaces.
“The Adopt-a-Park program is designed to encourage more Canberrans to get involved with their community by maintaining local parks,” Mr Steel said.
He said volunteers played a major role in caring for parks and green spaces in the ACT and the program would support existing volunteer groups and also encourage new ones to develop.
“Volunteering is a great way to support urban open spaces, but it is also a chance to get out and meet new people and foster a stronger sense of community,” he said.
“For many people, volunteering is an opportunity for social engagement with their neighbours.”
Mr Steel said there were two categories of grants, one for community events and another for community based activities.
“Members of the community can apply for up to $20,000 to help support stewardship and neighbourhood activities relating to urban assets over the following year.”
He said some of the items the grant funding could be used for included consumable products such as plants and personal protective equipment; tools and equipment; specialist contracted expertise such as a landscape designer; and small scale infrastructure like benches.
Mr Steel said community information sessions for the Adopt-A-Park Community Grants program would be held at the Gungahlin Library on Wednesday 4 September and at the Tuggeranong Library on Tuesday 17 September.
Applications for the grants close on 20 September and a 10-page guide to ‘Adopting a Park’ can be accessed at this PS News link.
