Expanding Park Access in California
California’s Proposition 68 allocated $1 billion to create and renovate parks in low-income, park-poor communities. Many municipalities, however, faced challenges in preparing competitive grant applications. In collaboration with Public Health Advocates, Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) provided technical assistance to help cities across the state secure critical funding and expand equitable access to public space.
LOCATION
California, United States
PARTNERS
Kounkuey Design Initiative
Public Health Advocates
YEAR
2020-2021
ROLE(S)
Program management
Community engagement
As the lead for three sites, my role involved managing the full grant application process—from facilitating weekly coordination meetings with municipal partners to developing and executing community engagement strategies. Over 20 resident workshops were conducted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, using both virtual and safe in-person formats.
I also supported several additional sites, ensuring strong collaboration between city staff, partner organizations, and community members. My contributions included creating park concept maps, cost estimates, and comprehensive grant packages, complete with timelines, design justifications, and alignment with community-identified needs.
These collective efforts helped secure approximately $26 million in public funding for parks across the state.
