- $9
Placemaking your parks, trails and waters
Activities that build community stewardship
- 32 minute video available immediately
- Audio version for on-the-go listening
- Watch or listen on your schedule
Do you have some underutilized public spaces like parks, trails or waters in your community? What's stopping you from getting more people into those spaces?
- Officials and public staff are busy. They don't have time or money to do more.
- Members of the public feel like they need permission before they do more with those public spaces, or they expect "the city" to do it.
(Hint: we are all part of “the city” even though we only think of the local government when we say “the city.”)
Public places are not absolutely essential, so they can get shorted in budget and in effort.
How can you get more people into your parks and trails, affordably?
The pandemic inspired us to create this video so more people could get outside.
These ideas are just as relevant today, helping you inspire stewardship of your outdoor spaces.
These ideas are just as relevant today, helping you inspire stewardship of your outdoor spaces.
Activities are the answer.
Activities like art, commerce and recreation turn your town’s existing parks, trails and waters into active community building tools.
- Activities don’t have to cost much or take government staff time away from essential services.
- Activities are the small steps that bring in the community to use outdoor places.
- Activities show you how the community will actually use the space.
- Activities connect you to the resources (money) you need to fund improvements in more effective public spaces.
You'll learn practical techniques from the real-world experiences of 11 different projects.
Community-building activities that take no budget or only a small budget to activate your parks, trails and waters:
- How to make more of your existing art and sculpture displays
- Ways publicly-owned empty lots can spur business activity and support local entrepreneurship
- How one town took down a fence and opened up new community interactions
- Learn the small change to public meetings that will turn them from impractical wish lists to do-able action steps
- Hear innovative ways to add amenities to parks and trails on a tight budget
Watch this quick sample: Why create activities for parks and trails? What holds us back?
You'll learn 3 types of activities to get people into your public spaces and build their sense of stewardship
Arts Activities
- Make more of your arts displays, adding meaning and connection
- Create space for performances that bring people together
- Turn arts workshops into community builders
Commerce Activities
- Fill empty spaces with simple markets, empowering tiny entrepreneurs
- Open up economic opportunity with trails
- Bring more parking and more pedestrians to your downtown with pathways and connections
Recreation Activities
- Increase access to your parks and trails to boost use and community interactions
- Learn innovative ways to add recreation amenities on the cheap
SaveYour.Town's Becky McCray and Deb Brown share their real world experience.
As a city manager, Becky dealt directly with administering public properties. She restarted long-delayed public trails projects, bringing new visitors into the downtown. She went on to assist local governments with grant writing and project management for public places.
As chamber of commerce director, Deb relied on indirect influence on public parks and trails. She helped bring more activities and events into public places, building connections in her community.
As chamber of commerce director, Deb relied on indirect influence on public parks and trails. She helped bring more activities and events into public places, building connections in her community.
You can trust Deb Brown and Becky McCray because they've actually dealt with public assets and building stronger communities.
Watch this quick sample: Real world experience
Becky McCray shares how she turned the list of properties her city owned into a tool for spotting opportunities.
Buy now - watch or listen now
Avoid this common pitfall: public input sessions gone awry
Before taking on big improvements to a park (and usually after writing the big plans), local officials and their consultants often do public input sessions to ask the public what they want in a park or public space. Inevitably, they get hit with a long list of wishes and wants that aren’t practical and don't fit that plan that was already written.
Deb guides you away from the pitfalls: Why you don't start by writing a plan
Deb Brown shares where you DO start
And what you can use instead of an expensive plan designed by outside consultants
And what you can use instead of an expensive plan designed by outside consultants
You get a 32 minute video you can watch on your own and share with others in your community
Or listen to the audio version anytime and any place that works for you
This video is perfect for:
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Active citizens, the public and people who want to make their town a better place
- Organizations they lead like chambers of commerce, downtowns, main streets, civic organizations, arts and performance groups
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People who control public parks, trails, waters and empty lots, like local governments, local officials and leaders, Tribes, Native and First Nation governments and organizations
- Organizations that serve these governments, like councils of government, municipal leagues, associations of cities and counties, federations of municipalities, tribal government associations, intertribal councils and alliances
Not another tiresome webinar
- Short, to the point video
- Watch instantly on your schedule: anytime, on demand, starting now
- Recorded so you can pause, stop, rewind or watch again immediately
- Audio version included: download and listen any time that works for your schedule
Placemaking Your Parks, Trails and Water - video with Deb Brown and Becky McCray
- 32 minute video and audio
- Available immediately - no waiting
You may be wondering...
Is this video recorded so I can watch later?
Yes, the video is recorded, and you'll be able to watch it immediately as soon as you complete your purchase. You are welcome to watch the video more than once, start and stop, or go back and watch again. You're not limited to watching from a single computer or with just one group.
What are your videos like? Can I get a copy of the slides?
This video is not like the usual webinar! You get a short, straight to the point video you can watch anytime on demand. You see our faces, and we connect with you personally. There are no boring or hard to read slides. We focus on real-world practical advice, not theoretical research.
What if I have questions?
You can ask questions two ways: in the comment box or via email. We always answer you personally. You can also share stories or examples you've seen. That helps everyone!
Will the video play on my computer? Or on my phone?
Either one! If you can watch a YouTube video, you can watch this video. That means you can use any device, any screen that can load a web page for you to login. Any PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android phone or tablet, smart TV or TV with a streaming box or stick should work.
You don't need blazing fast internet.
You don't need blazing fast internet.
How long is the video?
The video runs 32 minutes. For a virtual watch party, schedule 40-50 minutes. You'll want that extra time to discuss what you watched and to network and talk with each other.
Can I share the video with other people?
Yes! Once you’re registered, you can schedule more than one viewing so you reach as many people as possible. We encourage you to watch on your own or set up a virtual watch party.
Who should I invite?
- Your friends who love to do things with you
- Visionaries like yourself
- Downtown associations, Main Streets, chambers
- Positive thinkers and doers
- Leaders and regular people
- Community foundations
- Elected officials from your local municipalities, counties or tribes
- People who care about your town
Is there an audio version?
Yes! A separate audio version is included. You can listen on the website, or download it to your phone and listen on the go.
What people say about SaveYour.Town videos
This video stimulated lots of note-taking and conversation between the business owners gathered at my house. Deb and Becky gave us some new ideas and several excellent examples of known models. I think some of us are thinking of pivoting our summer’s plans after participating in Wednesday’s event. Thanks for a well-thought out presentation!
Jonya Pacey, Minnesota
What a TERRIFIC marketing Video. I had 20 businesses show up to watch and they all left with new ideas and an excitement to get back and start implementing! I’ve already had 5 businesses reach out in less than 2 hours after it ended, that are already putting your ideas into action.
Mandy Walsh, City of Lampasas, Texas
There are always great take-aways from the videos that can be put into place immediately. One of my favorites is changing your store's evening vibe (different music, lighting, etc.) because evening shoppers are not the same as day time shoppers.
Diane Moore, Wheaton, Illinois
How Placemaking Your Parks, Trails and Water makes your community stronger:
Public parks, trails and waters are community commons, places where different kinds of people can come together.
Bringing groups together like this builds bridging social capital, making your community stronger.
Helping people to feel ownership and stewardship builds even more social capital. When your people feel like a park or trail belongs to them, and that they are stewards of it, they’ll take better care of it and encourage others to.
Getting people into nature and the outdoors is good for physical and mental health, making your community healthier.
We created this video & audio to help you bring together your community and strengthen your resilience. It's part of our year-long commitment to you and your community.
Helping people to feel ownership and stewardship builds even more social capital. When your people feel like a park or trail belongs to them, and that they are stewards of it, they’ll take better care of it and encourage others to.
Getting people into nature and the outdoors is good for physical and mental health, making your community healthier.
We created this video & audio to help you bring together your community and strengthen your resilience. It's part of our year-long commitment to you and your community.