The Friends of Patterson Park was chosen to receive a $1,500 grant from America Walks to develop and support a new Junior Pagoda Docent Program, which will train Baltimore youth to help run an after-school program for elementary school children who live walking distance to the park. This program reflects part of the Friends' mission to make the park a welcoming place for all members of our diverse community, by both training and engaging local youth and bringing elementary school children to the park from schools that don't already use Patterson Park in their curriculum. This year, the program will be geared towards children from Tench-Tillman Elementary School, who will arrive at the park via a “walking school bus” and then enjoy a tour of the park’s historic Pagoda, as well as fitness and arts activities, encouraging them to walk to and around the park with their parents.
America Walks announced the latest grantees of the Community Change Micro Grant program on January 3. This micro grant program provides funds that support grassroots efforts aimed at empowering communities to create more safe, accessible and enjoyable places to walk and be physically active. Now in its third year, this program has supported everything from new art to improved way-‐finding, local events to school engagement projects. The Friends of Patterson Park was chosen as one of 27 grant recipients, out of 450 applicants nation-wide. For more information on America Walks and its 2018 grantees, click here.