Thanks for your comments. To answer your questions:
1. Yes - I do believe the model could be replicated at cities or communities across the country. It is a public-private partnership model that could be used anywhere. The most critical ingredients in this partnership are: 1) that both sectors must provide funding; 2) that the projects are privately managed so that they are completed more quickly. Many municipalities often have more pressing and larger-scale projects to handle, so projects like these are forced to the bottom of the priority list. By having a private entity manage these projects, they become the sole and most important item on the agenda.
2. We plan to raise funds by continuing to demonstrate our ability to complete these projects in a quick and cost-efficient manner; by drawing attention to the fact that results are visible and tangible; and by linking funders/sponsors to individual projects so they have a more direct connection to what their funds are accomplishing. Also, we have increased our PR efforts with the goal of creating more awareness of the organization, which will hopefully, translate into more funding. So far, we have seen positive results.
Wow! What a fabulous idea, I am speechless when I see what the spaces went from and became...
To see the desolate, dull, dreary parking lots, become organized, structured play places for children who reside in a city where obesity, depression etc... are overwhelming the population. After what New York has been through your gift to the children, uniting so many aspects of the community and most important of all to bring the children literally to the drawing table renders anyone with heart to stand up and cheer. I applaud you, and have only gratitude and honor when I consider what it is you have done. Congratulations!
Comments
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for telling us about how your work has impacted so many New York City children. I have two quick questions when you have a moment:
1) Are you able to distill your model in such a way that other cities could successful transform underutilized spaces into playgrounds?
2) How do you plan to raise the funds you need to continue to be successful?
Thanks!
Alexis
Hi Alexis,
Thanks for your comments. To answer your questions:
1. Yes - I do believe the model could be replicated at cities or communities across the country. It is a public-private partnership model that could be used anywhere. The most critical ingredients in this partnership are: 1) that both sectors must provide funding; 2) that the projects are privately managed so that they are completed more quickly. Many municipalities often have more pressing and larger-scale projects to handle, so projects like these are forced to the bottom of the priority list. By having a private entity manage these projects, they become the sole and most important item on the agenda.
2. We plan to raise funds by continuing to demonstrate our ability to complete these projects in a quick and cost-efficient manner; by drawing attention to the fact that results are visible and tangible; and by linking funders/sponsors to individual projects so they have a more direct connection to what their funds are accomplishing. Also, we have increased our PR efforts with the goal of creating more awareness of the organization, which will hopefully, translate into more funding. So far, we have seen positive results.
Wow! What a fabulous idea, I am speechless when I see what the spaces went from and became...
To see the desolate, dull, dreary parking lots, become organized, structured play places for children who reside in a city where obesity, depression etc... are overwhelming the population. After what New York has been through your gift to the children, uniting so many aspects of the community and most important of all to bring the children literally to the drawing table renders anyone with heart to stand up and cheer. I applaud you, and have only gratitude and honor when I consider what it is you have done. Congratulations!
Becky Giles
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