Detroit Parks Coalition Awarded $2.6 million from Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation

The Detroit Parks Coalition, a startup nonprofit helping to support healthy, equitable & vibrant parks in Detroit, has been awarded $2.6 million to expand programming, provide matching grants for capital improvements and sustainability to its member organizations, and strengthen its relationship with the City of Detroit Parks & Recreation Division over the next 3 years.

The funding includes:

• $250,000 a year over 3 years to plan and operate the Pistons Neighbors Program, providing free and healthy activities in parks across Detroit. The Pistons Neighbors Program is presented in partnership with the Detroit Pistons Foundation and funded by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and William Davidson Foundation.  

• $500,000 as a 1:1 match for capital improvements in DPC member parks in Detroit’s neighborhoods—Chandler, Clark, Eliza Howell, Palmer, Patton, and Rouge.

• $1,000,000 as a 1:2 match for projects, programs, or capacity building in those same parks.

• Funding to support a 3-year fellowship at the City of Detroit to liaise between the Parks & Recreation Division and DPC member parks.

“This grant shows that, when we come together, we can make a strong case for investing in Detroit’s parks,” said Alex Allen, who led the creation of DPC and was recently elected President of the group’s inaugural board of directors.

Dara O’Byrne, Chief Parks Planner for the City of Detroit, agrees. “This is an incredible opportunity to increase funding for parks in Detroit and to bolster the City’s great partnership with Detroit Parks Coalition and the park organizations they represent.”

"This grant is a shining example of the boundless impact that arises from thoughtful collaboration." said Jim Boyle, VP of programs and communications at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. "The partnerships that the Detroit Parks Coalition have built are invaluable to the sustainability of their collective parks and programming. We are thrilled to be a part of DPC's wholistic approach to strengthening and growth."

“DPC’s promise is to bring new and expanded resources to Detroit’s parks,” said Sigal Hemy, DPC’s executive director. “We are thrilled to grow our ability to support programming, capital improvements, and operations for our member parks organizations.”