Newark Nonprofit Tries To ‘Activate’ Open Space In The City

NEWARK, NJ — A neighborhood park can be a beautiful thing. And a nonprofit in Newark has been trying to get that message out in an attempt to make a positive impact in the city.

Recently, United Parks As One launched new social media pages, marking a big expansion for the local community-based organization. Their goal is to “activate parks, playgrounds, gardens, and other open spaces for the benefit of Newark residents and communities.”

Learn more here.

According to a news release from the group, the leaders who founded the organization in 2008 saw a need to come together to share information about and advocate on behalf of open space in the city.

The organization sponsors a summer environmental education program for youth, a grant program that offers funding for community-led events at parks and other open spaces, and an annual National Night Out celebration at three parks.

During the pandemic, the organization offered free virtual programming to Newark residents

“Having a website means we will be able to reach a much larger audience with information about what we and our partners are doing,” Executive Director Carla Robinson said.

“We’re fortunate to be at a stage where we have lots of information to share,” Robinson said. “We’re looking forward to using our presence on social media to generate dialogue about what people love about Newark’s parks and the types of activities and events they participate in there or would like to see take place there.”

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