Adopt A Park
Problem Statement
Since trash is degrading ecosystems and affecting community well-being, the Sustainability Committee of the GS Ottawa Hub proposes to adopt a local park. By doing so, we aim to create a more welcoming and safe community space while contributing to the City of Ottawa’s park cleaning and sanitation efforts. Currently, the McNabb Park is not being adopted by any other organization.
Target Group
The Sustainability Committee has picked the McNabb Park located in the Centertown neighborhood(180 PercyStreet) of Ottawa. Centertown is densely populated with its residents being mostly adults (25-64) and youth (15-24). According to the Canada 2016 Census, the population of Centertown is 27 985.
We chose a park in Centertown due to the fact that many Shapers live in the neighborhood and the surrounding areas of Vanier, Hintonburg, and Gatineau. The park provides a social refuge for the residents of Centertown, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are hoping to provide the community with a cleaner and safer space (in particular, families with kids who use the children’s playground located in the park). In addition, we hope to promote awareness around environmental issues and to showcase localized and sustainable solutions to residents coming to the park.
Proposed Solution
By engaging in the city’s Adopt A Park program (https://globalshapersottawa.medium.com/how-our-ottawa-global-shapers-hub-adopted-a-local-park-d69aaafb0148), we are committing to clean up a park minimum twice a year for a period of two years. As per our timeline, (see Milestones and Timelines below), we anticipate holding 6-8 cleanups over two years, as long health guidelines & weather conditions allow for. We also hope to work with the city of Ottawa, Ecology Ottawa, and McNabb Community Centre (located beside the park) to offer events (should health guidelines allow for) to promote awareness around environmental issues.
The Adopt-a-Park program provides added value in that it contributes to:
- The Ottawa Hub’s goal to measure and track our sustainability efforts;
- The Global Shapers target to mobilize 1 million people to influence policy and drive action to safeguard our planet, including by restoring nature;
- Acts of Leadership for trained Climate Reality Leaders; and
- Pledges under the Voice for the Planet Campaign
Milestones and Timelines
- Late August/Early September 2020: Receive approval from GS Ottawa Hub to adopt the park
- Early September 2020: Begin planning for the first park cleanup
- Mid-September 2020: GS Ottawa Hub to clean park
- Late October 2020: GS Ottawa Hub to clean park (if needed)
- Spring 2021: GS Ottawa Hub to clean park
- Summer 2021: GS Ottawa Hub to clean park
- September 2021: Evaluate strategy and adjust as necessary
- September 2021-22: Hold three to four additional cleanups
Resources Needed
We hope to involve teams of Shapers from our Hub in each cleaning. We will require four to six volunteers from the Hub to participate in a cleaning three to four times a year, depending on the amount of trash.
As a form of raising awareness, we are considering opening one to two clean-up sessions to the wider Ottawa community. We intend for these clean-up sessions to coincide with the GLAD Cleaning the Capital campaign that usually takes place in the spring and fall. By doing so, we aim to foster community pride and have an even bigger impact. In our efforts to mobilize citizens, we will primarily reach out to the existing Hub volunteer lists and post a call for volunteers on social media should we fall short.
This being said, the GS Ottawa Hub will be primarily responsible for taking care of the park.
The City will provide cleanup removal supplies and collect litter when notified therefore we don’t anticipate any financial commitments from the hub.
We will also share the results of our efforts via the GS Ottawa Hub’s social media channels. The adopt-a-park project might serve as the first step towards wider community engagement activities, including encouraging citizens to adopt parks in their local community, and advocating for cleaner neighborhoods.
Sort-Term Goals / Results
- Improve safety and promote a healthy natural environment by cleaning the park; and,
- Contribute to the social cohesion of the Hub by bringing members together to volunteer for the cleanup.
Long-Term Change
- Community benefits: Educate Ottawa residents about the environment and climate change whether in person or via social media; Improve the sense of pride of Ottawa residents in the area;
- Economic benefits: Improve the brand image of Centretown through a cleaner environment.
- Organizational benefits: Strengthen Shapers’ connection to Ottawa and increase our own brand awareness.
Potential Metrics:
- Number of people mobilized? 4 to 6 Ottawa Shapers per cleanup
- Number of Shapers that participated? TBD
- Number of initiatives and events held in partnership with the City of Ottawa? TBD
- Number of community participants per event TBD
- General outreach activities
- Number of people reached: TBD
- Number of people engaged: TBD
COLLABORATORS:
- City of Ottawa
- Ecology Ottawa
- McNabb Community Centre