Green Up Memphis Match! Apply by February 8

Calling all Memphians!

What would it take to make your local park or open space a true asset to your community? And could you use some extra cash to get there?

Is there a vacant lot, median strip, or other potential green space sitting fallow in your neighborhood that could be more inviting? Do you dream of replacing some of its concrete with more green growing stuff?

soulsville

[Photo of  the I Love Soulsville Rock/Art Garden by David Leonard]

 

Do you want to start a park friends group, design a sign for your local playground, or even get a volunteer lawn-mowing crew together?

Well, now is   a great time to get started.

In partnership with Livable Memphis, ioby is launching the Green Up Memphis Match, which will provide more than $33,000 in matching funds to projects focused on green spaces or public parks in  Memphis.  If your project is eligible, you can receive up to $5,000 in dollar-for-dollar matching funds!*

The deadline to submit an idea is February 8.  All you need is an idea, a fundraising team, and a dollar goal. Your team will spend March fundraising, and later this spring, you’ll be able to get shovels in the ground! 

As you may be aware, there’s a new swell of energy for all things urban and green in Memphis these days. Some ioby-supported Memphis projects have already found great success, like Wishes for Williamson, the Evergreen Rain Garden, and Stripe Memphis Basketball Courts. The City’s parks department has been working with more local leaders to improve parks and green space with more input from the public. And some neighbors are in the preliminary stages of forming an advocacy group that will help streamline and formalize the process for any Memphian who wants to work with the City to improve public parks. The list goes on!

Basically, citizen engagement in Memphis’s parks and urban green spaces is on the rise, and it’s easier than ever to help make positive changes in your neighborhood, even when the City owns the land.

So Memphians: it’s time to get excited about what you can do! ioby and Livable Memphis are here to help.

More  details  about  the   Green Up Memphis Match   are at ioby.org/greenup .   If you have questions about Green Up Memphis, please send them to Ellen Roberds at ellen@ioby.org.

 

*The final amount of match  dollars each project receives will depend on  the number and scope of eligible projects.