Charlotte Foundation Partners for Parks wins National Award

Partners for Parks Foundation, a regional nonprofit whose mission is to preserve, promote, and enhance parks, greenways, and open spaces for all, is proud to announce it has won the prestigious Lehman Award for Park Foundation Excellence from the National Association of Park Foundations.

Charlotte’s Partners for Parks, one of only 5 park foundations to win the regional award for 2020, is best known for the popular Open Streets 704 events and the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Trials, held in Charlotte. Partners for Parks is an umbrella organization that provides a funding vehicle for 80 different local friends of parks groups and foundations, and has allocated more than $400,000 for parks programs and scholarships for kids to participate in those programs since its inception in 1996.

“We are very honored to receive this prestigious award that recognizes what we have done,” said Partners for Parks Treasurer Al Brown, accepting the award during the NAPF’s virtual awards celebration. “We are dedicated to advocating for parks, greenways, open spaces, nature centers, and recreation programs for all ages. Our focus in 2020 is advocacy — to make sure everyone has equal access across the Charlotte region, regardless of race, income, or zip code — and fulfill our vision, which is to breathe life into our community.”