January 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 52

Friends of Silver
Lake Naturalist
Center in
Pennsylvania

Local Profile

citizens always have more latitude in chasing and
allocating resources than park employees do. Citizen groups-especially those with 501(c)(3) taxexempt status-can accept all kinds of donations,
apply for public and private grant money, and host
whatever fundraising events they like. Moreover,
friends groups can allow parks to collect program
fees in ways that will directly benefit the hosting
park or program site. The Friends of Silver Lake
Naturalist Center in Bucks County, Pennsylvania,
for example, actually collects the fees for all programs at the center. (Because of this financial arrangement, it also shares the governance of the
group with the Bucks County Department of Parks

Friends of Huntley Meadows Park

Passion in Place

When Kevin Munroe began his job as manager
of Huntley Meadows Park in Fairfax County, Virginia, he stepped into a smoothly running, mature partnership between the park and its loyal band of citizen
volunteers. " My only job, " he says with a laugh, " was
not to mess it up. " The friends group, formed 25 years
ago in reaction to a proposed highway through the
unique wetland wildlife sanctuary, is known throughout the county park system for its dedication to the
1,261-acre park. In fact, for the last three years, Fairfax County Park Authority's Elly Doyle Award for
outstanding volunteerism has gone to officers of the
Friends of Huntley Meadows. Theirs is a dedication
that, according to Munroe, continually inspires the
park staff. " They care passionately about the park, "
he explains, " and that strong connection the Friends
50 Parks & Recreation

and Recreation.) Thus, all fees charged bypass the
county coffers to go directly to the nature center.
A mature friends group provides stability-
and even the possibility of growth-in times
of budget cuts. While most friends groups arise
in the midst of a threat or crisis, the ones that last
to develop a committed, experienced volunteer
base tend to become buffering agents-protecting
parks from closure or loss of critical programs and
equipment in bad economic times. As Kevin Munroe, manager of Huntley Meadows Park in Fairfax
County, Virginia, comments, " There was a time
back in the '80s when there was a danger of a road
coming through the park. The protective nature of
our friends group was formed during that time-
and it is still a part of the group's character. "
That prevailing mindset at Huntley Meadows has
resulted in a group that is deeply committed to the
unusual wetlands and abundant wildlife of the park.
They view the park as an " almost sacred place....
And there is not a day that goes by where you can't
feel the positive effect and benefit of the friends
group. They are helping us run the programs, staff
the front desk, fund special purchases. They are literally helping us keep the lights on, " Munroe says.
A nd at the nature center in Bucks County,

JANUARY 2011

www.NRPA .ORG

have to the site-the staff here all respect it and embrace it. "
In many ways, the Huntley Meadows friends group
represents a model for effective partnership at the
local site level. Building on the foundation of simple passion for a place, the group combines comprehensive programming support with fundraising for
needed items. Not a day goes by that the volunteers
are not onsite helping with routine operations, visibly and behind the scenes. They lead tours, staff
the front desk, write grants, fund staff training, and
provide such extras as waders and motion-sensing
camera equipment. They are currently working with
Fairfax County to institute a $2 per car parking donation at the park. The donation would go directly
to the Friends to assist it in its supportive role-yet

January 2011 - Parks & Recreation

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