​What is Friends of the Parks’ Seed Grant Program?

Since 2000, the Friends of the Parks’ Seed Grant Program has helped build stronger communities, develop alliances, and foster a sense of care for parks. Since then, we have awarded over $150,000 in grant funds for cultural programs, mural projects, recreation equipment, education programs, garden development – and even air conditioners! – just to give you a few examples.

A seed, dropped into the ground, springs into activity, and in the act of living produces a hundred more seeds, life, by living, multiplies itself. It is forever Becoming More, it must do so, if it continues to be at all.

― Wallace D. Wattles

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Overview of the program – Friends of the Parks (FOTP) provides small grants to park advisory councils and other park partner organizations committed to improving Chicago’s parks. The intent of these grants is to build community alliances, enhance green spaces and support parks.  Through this program we hope to 1) leverage the dollars that are spent on parks in the city; 2) promote and support community groups and community assets; 3) develop leaders who can share their knowledge with others; and 4) provide additional resources to park advisory councils. 

What can be funded? Many kinds of projects can be funded through this program. All projects must be related to a Chicago park, and funds must be used for events, programming, beautification, or supplies. Examples of previously funded projects include: Gardens, tree plantings, sports equipment, community concerts, art projects, programming, etc. Requests for funds to be used for capital improvement projects will not be considered. Capital improvements are expenditures related to the acquisition, expansion, or renovation of some segment of a park’s infrastructure (e.g., tennis courts, playgrounds).

The 2022 Seed Grant Application has not been released yet. Check back later.

2020/2021 Seed grant recipients:

• Friends of Bloomingdale Trail - in support of their winter programming along The 606/Bloomingdale Trail.
• Lee Park Playlot in Ashburn - to work with youth in the community on beautification of the park including filling in areas with native plants and flowers.
• Palmer Park Advisory Council - to establish a virtual class series, Black History/Black Futures, and form a core, intergenerational cohort of participants who will work together to complete a hands-on project related to that session's theme, which will be beneficial to Palmer Park and the surrounding community. 
• Coalition for Better Chinese American Community - to support a Nature Photography class for youth at Ping Tom, Palmisano, and McKinley Parks.
• River Park Advisory Council - equipment for events and summer concert series, and the installation of 5 sculptures at Ronan Park
• Neighbor to Neighbor Literacy Project - Little Free Libraries at Gingko, Ninebark, Crawford, London, and Franklin Parks. 
• Eckhart Park Advisory Council - improvements to garden area 
• Mobilize Creative Collaborative - Art tour organized by four artists to host pop-ups at George Washington, Kennicott, Armstrong, Palmer, La Villita, and McKinley Parks. 
• Sounds Natural - to provide artists stipends and DIY activity kits for the Sounds Natural and Art Therapy event series at the Brozewood Gathering Space in the Burnham Wildlife Cooridor. 
• DuSable Heritage Association - for the annual August Commemoration of the death of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, including wreath-laying and DuSable Heritage Cooridor tour in support of the organizing toward the activation of DuSable Park, and participation with IIT landscape architecture students to do a design studio in anticipation of the refresh of the park Framework Plan. 
• Golden Gate Park Advisory Council - to support purchase of branded shade structures for park and bicycle events
• North Park Nature Center - to host families from the neighborhood at the center and gardens

2019 Seed grant recipients: 

• Bessemer Park Advisory Council  – Independence Day Parade float and community events 
• Veteran's Memorial Park Advisory Council – Soccer goals
• Bradley Park Advisory Council  – Gardening project and community events 
• Burnside Park Advisory Council  – Pop-up canopy and community events 
• Austin Town Hall Park Advisory Council  – Gardening project  
• Buttercup Park Advisory Council  – "Mini-murals" project 
• Hayes Park Advisory Council  – Little Free Library

2018 Seed Grant Recipients:

• Ridge Park Advisory Council – New water bottle filling station
• South Shore Cultural Center Advisory Council – Community for Unity music and youth programming
• Loyola Park Advisory Council – Artists of the Wall website development
• Gompers Park Advisory Council – Expand archery progam
• Mozart Park Advisory Council – Arts programming and panel products
• Park 540 Community Garden Group – To build four raised beds in new garden
• Friends of Eckhart Park – New jerseys for special recreation program
• Midway Plaisance Advisory Council – Bulbs and supplies for stewardship workdays
• West Chatham Park Advisory Council – Summer of Peace Community Picnic

2017 Seed Grant Recipients:

• Douglas Park Advisory Council – Special recreation equipment
• Euclid Park Advisory Council – Euclid Neighborhood Park Festival
• Hamilton Park Advisory Council – Expanding the Englewood Art Fair to include a youth component
• Kelvyn Park Advisory Council – Gymnastics equipment
• Ogden Park Advisory Council – Senior programming
• Ping Tom Park Advisory Council –  Community kayak program
• Pottawatomie Park Advisory Council – Two raised beds in the community garden
• Rainbow Beach Park Advisory Council – Enhancing summer camp
• West Chatham Advisory Council – Summer of Peace Community Picnic
• West Ridge Nature Preserve – Citizen science programming
• Pottawatomie Park Advisory Council – Two raised beds in the community garden