The Park People believe that public parks enrich our lives and communities. Our programs and initiatives are designed to engage citizens, businesses and corporations in the revitalization of our storied Park System through volunteer activities.
The Park People’s purpose is to preserve, support, and enhance Milwaukee County Parks while building an effective volunteer organization.
“The Milwaukee County parks that have volunteer friends groups committed to enhancing that park continue to be successful in bringing more people to engage in the park, bringing outside funds to help sustain the park, and creating more activities to help fulfill Milwaukee County Parks’ mission and vision.”
-Guy Smith, Milwaukee County Parks Director
“Park People are an invaluable organization to the Milwaukee County Park System because they have built a network of organizations and volunteers that improve the parks, raise funds, and organize community members. The parks are a valued resource that are nurtured by the friends groups that are held together with the expertise and encouragement of the Park People.”
-Katie Williams, PHd.
Author of thesis, Volunteers in Milwaukee County Parks: A Case Study.
A critical examination of the role of volunteers in managing parks.
“The behind the scenes work which Park People does is rather invisible, yet so valuable to our community. I appreciate the generosity of the Park People in helping Friends Groups to organize and find money and resources for projects, recruiting thousands of volunteers for Weedouts, and promoting the value and exploration of our parks by coordinating the Oak Leaf Discovery Tour Passport program for the last 8 years.”
-Cheri Briscoe, Director Milwaukee Parks Foundation
“About 12 years ago I decided that my neighborhood park, Estabrook, needed help and that I was going to step up to see that it was provided. As a member of another volunteer group, I was familiar with the administrative that seems daunting to volunteer groups – getting 501c3 status, soliciting volunteers, getting a sales tax exemption, covering liability, etc. I was most pleased to learn The Park People of Milwaukee could help our Friends group with all of that and more. It has been a very positive relationship for the Friends of Estabrook Park. Thank you Park People.”
-Harold Schmid, Friends of Estabrook
“You can use the following for our statement: The Friends of Brown Deer Park was started in 2016 to enhance and advocate for this very large park that didn’t have any Friends group, and found the expertise and support of the Park People was very beneficial to getting us up and running. We have collaborated with other Friends Groups, especially Lincoln Park Friends, and are glad for the fiscal sponsorship the Park People provides.”
– Jim Farmer and Rob Guilbert, Friends of Brown Deer
