Community and Partnerships

Community Corner

Listening to residents and working with Prince George's County's increasingly diverse communities is important to M-NCPPC. We know that communities know best what communities need... and that having a conversation with everyone at the table is important. In addition, we want to keep everyone informed about park projects and recreation programs and services for all ages. To do this, the Department of Parks and Recreation communicates on a regular basis with thousands of county residents, civic and homeowners association leaders, recreation councils, advisory boards, professional associations, sports groups, arts proponents, history buffs, business owners, and elected officials--as well as individuals and families. We take pride in knowing the people who live and work near our parks and facilities, and we want you to join the conversation.

We have regional managers whose job it is to know their communities and work with staff to reflect local wishes in community center programming. We have park planners who work at the local level to make sure a community's needs are being met with new or renovated parks and facilities. We also have community relations staff in our Public Affairs and Marketing Office—please contact us if you have a question or a good idea, or want to get more involved in your community.

Need more information about the Department of Parks and Recreation and all it has to offer?

Subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter
Sent to your email or listserve every Monday, this e-newsletter includes loads of information and fun things to do in the upcoming week. Now available in both English and Spanish!

Book a speaker through our Speakers Bureau
Invite a speaker from the Department of Parks and Recreation's Speakers Bureau to your next community, association or civic group meeting. This panel of experts, made up of department staff, is available at no cost to meet with you and your organization during the day or the evening, at your site or ours. You select the subject of interest to your group and we'll supply the speaker(s).

Add your organization or group to our mailing list
Learn about new projects, programs, facilities and services, and receive notices about public meetings to share with others in your community. We want to keep you informed.

Support Parks and Recreation in Prince George's County

Grants

Through a Parks and Recreation annual fundraising plan, the Department seeks grants, as well as corporate sponsorship, individual donor contributions, and in-kind gifts to enhance the Department of Parks and Recreation's operational funds. All grants received from these sources are utilized primarily to support and grow existing programs, facilities, and services.

The Parks and Recreation Department actively develops relationships with federal and state agencies, corporate foundations, and private foundations and prepares grant proposals for support of Parks and Recreation facilities and programs. The Department receives grant support for a variety of projects including youth programs, arts programs, walking and biking trails, new park development, and Park Police safety and security. Collaborative grants with partner agencies expand resources and available programs to county residents.

Partnerships

Bring a partnership to your community and help us grow the Parks and Recreation mission.

M-NCPPC Parks and Recreation defines a partnership as a cooperative relationship between professionals or groups who agree to share responsibility for achieving some specific goal; partnerships can support programs or events and offer benefits to all participating partners. Building relationships is fundamental to the success of partnerships. Effective partnerships and collaborations are characterized by building and sustaining "win-win" relationships - the kind of relationships where expectations are clear and understood by all members of the collaboration and by those who are working with the collaboration. Defining relationships assists in identifying tasks, roles, responsibilities, and work plans and ultimately reaching desired outcomes.

Where do I start?

Trying to grow an existing program? Is there a need for a new program in your area? Talk to the director of your local Parks and Recreation facility; is there a need to reach a new audience or meet a critical need for residents in a specific community? If your program supports the Parks and Recreation mission, there may be an opportunity for collaboration.

How can my organization support programs and events?

Parks and Recreation facilities offer new audiences and opportunities to reach communities in need.
Your organization can help us expand our programs focused on health and wellness, lifetime sports, positive youth development, active seniors, conservation and outdoor education. If your program is a national model or has been running for three or more years, the Parks and Recreation Department may have an interest in participating.

Park and Recreation special events seek resources to expand. Corporate and business partners can provide volunteers, in-kind donations of supplies, giveaway items, as well as cash sponsorship to grow county-wide events. Through the Partners 'n Parks program our partners can grow a long term relationship to bring future resources and support for the Parks and Recreation Department.

Criteria for new partners

M-NCPPC Parks and Recreation will consider partnerships with organizations that meet the following criteria with the proposed program or activity:

Required

Program or project supports M-NCPPC Parks and Recreation mission.

Supports vision and goals of the Parks and Recreation Department including health, wellness, youth development, programs for active seniors, conservation and outdoor education.

Commitment to clear goals and measurable outcomes

Opportunities for all partners to achieve goals, gain new resources, and serve the larger community in Prince George's County.

Desired

Adds value to Parks and Recreation programming and increases services to residents.

Program is research based and has evaluation results.

Supports principles of health, wellness, and trends in recreation, sports, and fitness.

Proposals for Partnerships

A proposal for a new partnership provides key information for planning a future collaboration. Proposals that focus on the highest needs in your community and provide measurable results will have the most success. Parks and Recreation can be an agent of positive change in communities; together we can demonstrate the benefits and the support will follow.

Submit a Proposal for Partnerships

Sponsor Local Community Events

Give back to your community through sponsorship of an M-NCPPC Parks and Recreation Department event. Public events attract a diverse audience from Prince George's County and the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Annual community events have a dedicated following; large events attract crowds of up to 15,000.

Support is needed for event entertainment, prizes and giveaways, refreshments, advertising and event promotion. Employee volunteers are a welcome resource to large events serving metropolitan area residents.

Event sponsors receive recognition through printed promotional materials, web site listings, event banners and signs, special announcements at events, and opportunities for sponsor related giveaways. Sponsors may also receive benefits like event tickets, VIP parking, and stage time for introductions and announcements.

Contact Grants and Partnerships Coordinator Rose Colby for more information on these opportunities to invest in the community: 301-446-3314 or rose.colby@pgparks.com.

Sponsorship Opportunities with Parks and Recreation

Herb, Bread and Tea Festival (April)

A celebration of spring with vendors providing herbs, spring plants, breads and baked goods, crafts, jewelry, and teas from all over the world. This event, held at the historic Montpelier Mansion in Laurel, also includes children's activities, gardening seminars, live music, and tours of the mansion.

Teen Cotillion (April-May)

The culminating event of a 16-week leadership and skill development program for teens. Through collaborations with parents, youth specialists, and community partners, young men and women make their debut at the Cotillion ceremony each spring.

Festival of Nations (May)

The Department of Parks and Recreation brings the Festival of Nations to Fort Washington, MD. This family-friendly multicultural event features ethnic foods, performances, games, and plenty of fun. The Department seeks food and cultural craft vendors, musicians, performers, and event sponsors for this event.

Summer Concert Series (June, July, August)

Musicians and performers from around the Mid-Atlantic area come out to play each summer at Watkins Regional Park and Bladensburg Waterfront Park. Thursday night concerts at Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro run June through August and include diverse offerings like jazz, rock, rhythm and blues, Latin beat, and almost anything you can dance to. On Sunday afternoons at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, enjoy a wide array of talent from the Washington DC area including reggae, blues, military bands and children's performers.

Shakespeare in the Parks (July)

Through a collaboration with a national traveling theater troupe, each summer the Parks and Recreation Department brings a Shakespearean classic to county residents through utdoor productions in Prince George's County parks for one week in July. Past shows have included As You Like It, The Tempest, and Two Gentleman of Verona.

Xtreme Teen Open House (September)

Prince George's County teens and parents are invited to open house events at Parks and Recreation community centers in the fall to introduce new programs and events for teens ages 12-17. Reach over 1000 youth attending open house events at more than 40 facilities.

Hispanic Festival (September)

Celebrating the rich Hispanic heritage in Prince George's County this annual event brings live music, food, craft vendors, games and family activities to the Hyattsville/Langley Park communities. This event serves over 15,000 participants from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC. Sponsorships available for event promotion, live entertainment, kids activities, and community booths.

Kinderfest (October)

Kinderfest features live music, kid-friendly activities, a pumpkin patch, pony-rides, and carnival food, fun and games for all ages. Held annually in Watkins Regional Park, this event draws a large crowd (10,000-15,000) from the Washington DC metropolitian area and incorporates every area of the park.

Jug Bay 10K Run for Wildlife (November)

Participants come from around the Washington, Maryland, and Virginia areas to run or walk the trails at Patuxent River Park in Upper Marlboro. Participant registration fees support nature and outdoor education programs in our parks.

Winter Festival of Lights (November-December)

A holiday favorite since 1986, the Winter Festival of Lights offers a winter light show with 1 million lights stretching through Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro. In 2009, the Festival of Lights will feature energy-saving LED lights, a laser light show, and light show night hikes.