July 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 43

any obstacles that might hinder the
city's ability to cut the grass.
What does the future look like
for Cronin as a park adopter? " I really
intend to introduce at the park
- in coordination and partnership
with the Adopt a Park program,
Genesee County Parks and City
of Flint - additional methods and
modalities of [soapbox car] racing
and additional multipurpose
events, " he says.
The Trash Factor
KGCB hosts a spring orientation
for representatives from each of
the Adopt a Park groups, providing
them with cleaning supplies and
asking them to sign a formal agreement
of participation.
For a time, there was one major
barrier with the
city
In 2021, NRPA named City of Flint as one
of 16 grantees that received a $40,000
grant toward implementing park projects
that would increase equitable access to
youth sports and play.
parks:
trash pickup. " In Flint, what was
happening with the park adopters
was that they were bagging up the
trash, taking it home and putting it
out with their residential garbage, "
Edwards explains.
So, through its grant funding,
KGCB paid to place dumpsters in
the parks for one year. The following
year, Edwards was able to work
out a deal with the residential waste
management company to pick up
the garbage from the parks at no
cost, but then the city changed companies.
The new company agreed to
pick up the trash again for free, but
for just a couple of months.
Edwards was determined to solve
this problem. " I kept harping on
this long enough that we were able
to get the grant from the Charles
Stewart
Mott Foundation...increased,
so that we could then hire
additional maintenance staff, " she
says. " So...the county parks maintenance
staff is literally going to every
single park at least once a week
and dealing with trash. "
Beyond Cleanup
Although park maintenance remains
a key part of the Adopt a
Park program, the KGCB budget
and grant funding also have been
used for park improvements and
enhancements. " We've [installed]
38 brand new playgrounds in six
years, " Edwards notes. " Now,
we're redoing basketball courts, repurposing
tennis courts, as well as
putting in grills and picnic tables.
We're working on the next piece of
capital improvements that will give
all of the parks those amenities. "
" We've received two brand new
playground sets, thanks to Nancy
and funding from the Mott Foundation, "
says Schlosser. The first
one, a playground set for 2- to
5-year-olds, was installed in 2016.
The second playground set, designed
for 5- to 11-year-olds, went
in last year. " Part of my role is
just advocating for things like that,
while the other part is just figuring
out how to better take care of what
already exists, " he says.
After Flint Parks and Recreation
disbanded in 2014, all the afterschool
programming and sports
programs were absorbed by other
community partner organizations.
" We've had some funding [in which]
we've been able to make available to
our park adopters so that they can do
programs, " says Edwards.
Howard says, " We're able to now
focus more on doing events. " She
adds that through her own nonprofit
organization and KGCB, she's able
to host basketball training camps and
flag football for kids.
Edwards says collaboration and
partnerships are key to the program's
success. That also means
seeking out available grants, such as
NRPA and Disney's Youth Sports
and Play Grant. In 2021, NRPA
named City of Flint as one of 16
grantees that received a $40,000
grant toward implementing park
projects that would increase equitable
access to youth sports and play.
Making a Difference
" Through the Adopt a Park program
and through my involvement in the
parks, I've come to realize that I really
enjoy taking care of public spaces,
and I'm very grateful for the people
who had the foresight to create public
spaces, " says Schlosser.
" To actually see this program
grow into what it is today is so
amazing and
rewarding, "
says
Strong. She adds that her volunteer
work has really been about " creating
a sense of belongingness " and
helping " to change the narrative for
the city; just showing how resilient
we are. "
" It's just amazing to see the big
difference of how people from the
outside see the city as this horrible
place..., " says Howard, " but when
they come to actually see Flint or
talk to residents, they see that we
are - Flint strong. We bond together
in a time of need.... We are
a community. "
Vitisia Paynich is Executive Editor and Director of Print
and Online Content at NRPA (vpaynich@nrpa.org).
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | JULY 2 0 22 | Parks & Recreation
43
PHOTO COURTESY OF LADEL LEWIS
July 2022 - Parks & Recreation

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