Who are we?

Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park (FoTBP) is a residential volunteer group that work together to improve and maintain the green space, cultural and recreational activities of Trinity Bellwoods Park. Since 2001, Friends of Trinity Bellwoods has been recognized by Parks & Recreation/City and by our Councillor as the vehicle of community consultation for the park.  We are a diverse group who are willing to share new ideas, respect other points of view, and participate in a collaborative process to create a vibrant community park. 

Volunteer members have:

• founded and operate a weekly summer farmers’ market (2007) 
• host the annual Pumpkin Parade and Pumpkin Toss at Halloween 
• partner with Trinity Bellwoods BIA to support the Films in the Park 
• conceptualized and implemented the Adopt-A-Tree program (2006) to water and nurture the new planted saplings in the park. This program has been replicated by many other park groups across the City. 
• coordinate a greenhouse (bestowed 2008) as an educational and community resource
• offer bulb and shrub planting events in collaboration with Parks & Recreation
• commissioned a tree inventory (2010)
• lead community and park clean ups
• offer hands-on corporate team building days,
• and respond to community issues that affect the park.  

What's our mission?
We hope to ensure that the park will be maintained as a healthy public green space for decades to come. Toronto's parks are often referred to as the "lungs" of our city. Besides providing a welcome refuge from the hurly burly of city life, park trees and public greens help clean our air of pollutants. Historically designated as an arboretum, Trinity Bellwoods Park, contains some of the oldest and most unique trees in Toronto. We want to take care of the existing natural environment and gradually improve it over time.

We believe that a lively, safe community is created through many small networks of friendships. The park allows people from all walks of life to spontaneously cross paths and strike up a conversation. In order to bring people together, we want to support a wide variety of park activities. Because we have an intimate understanding of park needs, we want to share our vision with Parks, Forestry and Recreation and our Councillor.

Park meetings - Why Should I Come?
If you have ever found yourself standing around the playground saying, “I wish we had…” or “why don’t they change…”; if you’re out jogging thinking “wouldn’t it be beautiful if there were more…”. Or perhaps you have an itchy green thumb? Interested in green space or the green house? Want to know how to adopt-a-tree?  Or volunteer for the farmers’ market?  And what about the playground?  Maybe you can offer a different skill set, coordinate meetings, take minutes or send newsletters. Then you need to come to the meetings.