SEED Grant Program
Friends of the Parks developed the SEED Grant Program in 2000 to provide resources for park advisory councils and stewardship groups to complete volunteer-led projects in Chicago’s parks and forest preserves in Cook County. The Seed Grant Program is designed to build stronger communities, develop alliances and foster a sense of care for parks. Through this program, park advocates may request financial support for a neighborhood park, playground or forest preserve project. Through the years, these projects have helped to advance capital and program improvements at more than 100 Chicago parks and have generated hope and pride in our neighborhoods. This program has been funded in part by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation for the last three years.
In 2009, 40 applications were received and reviewed for SEED Grant support. Nineteen were approved for FY 2009. In 2009 the program provided a total of $15,000 toward group projects to beautify parks, help build playgrounds, promote stewardship within our nature areas, purchase sports and recreation equipment, introduce new innovative programs to children and adults, offer arts and culture, and promote existing park programs.
Funding for the Seed Grant Program was provided in 2009 by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.
Download the 2010 Seed Grant Application
In 2008, Friends of the Parks (FOTP) awarded 23 “Seed Grants” totaling $15,000 to park advisory councils, adopt-a-park groups and community partners(see list below). Below is a grant report from one of our 2008 Seed Grant recipients.
2009 SEED Grant recipients and their projects
- Unity Park Council/Arts in the Park
- Athletic Field Park Council/Arts Project
- Friends of Portage Park/Soccer Equipment
- Touhy Park Council/Special Events
- Sheil Park Council/Promotes-Marketing
- Oz Park Council/Landscape Park Entry
- Rutherford Sayre Park Council/Sound Equipment
- Armour Square Park Council/Landscaping
- Garfield Park Council/History Exhibit
- Dunbar Park Council/Flower Planting-Movie Night
- Indian Boundary Park Council/Build-A-Kiosk
- Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse/Building a South Garden
- Friends of Murray Park/Adopt A Park
- Chase Park Theatre Council/ Production Costumes
- Washington Park Conservancy/Install Native Plants
- Austin-Irving Community Council/Installing Native Plants
- Grand Blvd. Federation/Taylor Park Beautification-Sculpture
- GroundUp Productions/Theatre Shows (6)
- Uncovered Theatre/Theatre Productions (6)
2008 SEED Grant Winners: Park Name and Grantee Project
- Armour Square – Landscaping (3 locations)
- Brainerd – Community Fest
- Calumet Park – Community Gardening (Gateway)
- Chase Park Theater Group – Theater (3 performances)
- Commercial Park – Growing Food Production
- Dvorak Park – 100th Park Anniversary (promotion)
- Ogden Park (LAC) – Movie in the Parks (Are We There Yet!)
- Portage Park – (concert and movie)
- Pulaski Park – Majorette Classes
- Rutherford Sayre – Folding Mats (tumbling class)
- Sherwood Park – Music Program
- Sheil Park – Playground Promotion
- Washington Park –Plant identification project
- Murray Park – Park Promotion and LAC Formation
- Wiggly Field – Landscape Remediation
- Euclid Park – Spring Break Event
- Ground Up – Outdoor Theater ( 5 sites)
- Mann Park – Garden Project
- Loyola Park – Sculpture Repair
- Lindblom Park – Basketball Program
- Horner Park – Gym Mats
- Holstein Park – Movie in the Parks
- Carver Park – Food For Life – Planting
