- Uniting communities in creating inspiring
visions and effective plans of action
- Raising needed funds
- Acquiring or exchanging real estate
- Coordinating restoration and development
plans
- Coaching volunteer citizens for long-term,
specialized resource care
When a community has an idea to transform an area into a great
public space, UOSF can augment public agency staff and provide
specialized real estate assistance and technical services.
Urban Open Space Foundation helps local governments and landowners
save money. UOSF funding expertise allows communities to take
full advantage of local philanthropic giving, and current
state and federal funding programs.
UOSF can also serve as a park or natural area project manager,
engaging the community in a comprehensive assessment of open
space needs and desires, and coordinating the design, engineering
and landscape services necessary to achieve the community's
vision.
Building an active constituency for public space is vital
to communities looking to create and sustain a park and natural
area system responsive to community needs. UOSF services include
community organizing.
Experience tells us that citizen action
and volunteer stewardship complement long-term park maintenance.
UOSF has rich experience in organizing "Friends-of"
groups and "Advocacy Councils" that advocate high
quality public open space, help raise acquisition or development
funds, attract volunteer labor for specialized landscape care,
and develop program partnerships linking public space to local
community assets.
At a regional Summit on October 11-13, 2001, UOSF and project
partners launched the Community
Open Space Partnership, a broad based network for local
action. This diverse network is dedicated to improving the biological, social and economic
health of communities through advocacy, public education,
and coalition building.
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