Thank you for being a friend … of the Metro Parks
Victoria Putnam, Community Engagement Manager
What do the Golden Girls have in common with Summit Metro Parks? Friends, of course!
Friends of Metro Parks (FOMP) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, founded in 1991, that supports and encourages public enjoyment of Summit Metro Parks through membership, outreach and advocacy.
History
Friends groups are commonplace among national, state, county and local park systems. They allow for citizen-led support for public lands and provide a way for citizens to channel their passion for the parks.
The request to create a Friends group for Summit Metro Parks was initiated by local chapters of the League of Women Voters and the Junior League in 1976.
Throughout the years, the group has been a major conduit for connecting children with the parks. FOMP has sponsored field trips and provided transportation funding for schools to visit all three of SMP’s centers (F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm Visitors Center, Liberty Park Nature Center and Summit Lake Nature Center), making environmental education accessible to students across the county.
2022 Highlights
Last year, FOMP supported SMP’s new Career Exploration Program. FOMP president Jonathan Houk says, “We are thrilled to be part of this program that seeks to introduce middle school and high school students from diverse backgrounds to careers in the parks and environmental sector. In all of the programming that we support, we hope to inspire the next generation of park-goers and cultivate an appreciation for nature and our Metro Parks. We believe this program has the capability to improve lives and our community in the coming decades and look forward to supporting this program in the years to come.”
Also in 2022, FOMP supported the design and purchase of overnight camping kits allowing Summit County residents to try camping without a costly upfront investment. These kits were used in an award-winning series of programs held at Munroe Falls Metro Park over the summer months.
2023 Outlook
As the COVID-19 resources provided to local schools and organizations end, there remains an opportunity to support the increased demand of nature-based learning. FOMP is exploring the next evolution of its long-running Pathways to Parks program to include community grants. These would assist local institutions that seek to offer environmental education experiences to both students and Summit County residents.
Be a Friend!
Friends of Metro Parks is supported through membership and annual fundraising initiatives. Memberships start at $25 and include exclusive benefits such as discounts at Maple Leaf Gifts and annual behind-the-scenes events. Another way to support FOMP is to eat, drink and dance at the annual Party for the Parks fundraising event! In 2022, it raised nearly $20,000 which will be used for community advocacy and outreach efforts.
“We continue to grow our membership base at community events throughout the year,” says Houk. “By growing our membership base, we increase the collective voice and influence of those in our community in support of nature-based programs, natural park lands and our Summit Metro Parks lands at the local, state and federal level.”
Thank you to all our Friends through the years! If you’re interested in joining or learning more, visit the Friends of Metro Parks website.
For more stories like this, check out Green Islands Magazine, a bi-monthly publication from Summit Metro Parks. Summit County residents can sign up to receive the publication at home free of charge.
