Maximize impact through a “friends of” parks group
In late September 2020, a lunch conversation at a local pizza shop in Clayton, N.C., spurred the idea for the Friends of Johnston County Parks—a volunteer coalition advocating in support of parks, open space, the arts, and recreational opportunities. Since that initial conversation among a passionate citizen, the county’s Parks, Greenways, and Open-Space Coordinator, and the town of Clayton’s Parks and Recreation Director, the group has accomplished the following:
- Recently registered as a non-profit organization with the North Carolina Secretary of State
- Established its first board of directors
- Grown its support to more than 1,000 followers on social-media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter)
- Hosted a handful of public events.
What makes Friends of Johnston County Parks unique is its approach—partnerships with not only the county and the town, but also the East Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA), Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST), Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center, Johnston County Visitors Bureau, and Triangle Land Conservancy, to name a few.
