Trust for Public Land
Deadline approaching:
Trust for Public Land.
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With just a few
days left to meet our member drive goal, I wanted to share an example
of why I think the work we do together is so essential, especially for
those of us concerned about creating a healthier, more connected
society.
It's the story of Teresa Bendito and the work she's done in her
community-with help from Trust for Public Land-to breathe
new life into a neglected neighborhood park.
Teresa first encountered Trust for Public Land at a meeting we held to
seek input from community members about the revitalization of Kiwanis
Methow Park in central Washington.
Kiwanis Methow Park before.
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Inspired by the resident-led nature of the project, Teresa and her
mother signed up as TPL community organizers, going door to door to
gather even more input from neighbors. What they discovered shows just
how transformative park projects can be.
Teresa's neighbors didn't just talk about what they wanted for the
park itself-new play equipment, trees to sit under, and the
like. They talked about difficult issues they faced-job
insecurity, housing costs, unsafe streets, and the toll it all took on
their mental health.
Park renovation wouldn't solve all of that, but with Teresa's hands-on
approach to engaging her community in the project, she was able to
give them something pretty valuable all the same: purpose and hope.
Kiwanis Methow Park after the renovation.
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The park reopened, and it was glorious. But Teresa's involvement
didn't stop there. Inspired by the new jewel of the neighborhood they
helped create, she and other neighbors formed a community
group-Parque Padrinos ("Godparents of the Park")-to help
ensure the park's upkeep over time.
Peers and elders celebrating her work was great, but it's the impact
Teresa had on two young people that really means the most to her:
"There are people who have thanked me for my work," Teresa says, "but
these two young girls actually told me that they want to be like me
when they grow up. And that fills my heart with joy because I know
that, in a couple of years, I may not necessarily be at the front of
this organization. But I know we are creating spaces and opportunities
for young people like Grace and Zoe. They will have people who look
like them, who have similar backgrounds as them, and who have been
able to make changes in our community, and they will know they are
more than capable of doing it themselves too."
Teresa standing at the endtrance of Kiwanis Methow Park.
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So, you see-it's not just about the land we preserve or
the trails we create or the swing sets we secure. It's about the
opportunity to connect and do something special-with people you
already know and love, with those in your community you could know,
and with young people who might one day be inspired to make change
too.
Train new leaders. Create more parks. Build stronger communities.
Become a Trust for Public Land member today.
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Thank you,
Josh VanDavier
Trust for Public Land
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