FROGS Talk
by Aimee Martin, FROGS President
Aimee Martin, FROGS PresidentThe Fairfax County budget may be finalized by the time you read this, but I want to tell you about the efforts we’re making to adequately fund parks. As you may have noticed, parks have been a lifeline during the pandemic, and people are still flocking to nature. Usage is up 60 percent. But funding has been declining in real terms for years. Positions aren’t filled, maintenance is deferred, and, sadly, parks are turning more to revenue-generating activities, which are not within everyone’s reach. Here at Green Spring Gardens we’re understaffed. We don’t always have enough staff to work with you, our wonderful volunteers. Your hard work and donations help tremendously but can’t fix a systemic shortfall.
This year a group of 10 different park Friends groups got together to amplify our call for adequate funding. FROGS joined with them to develop the “Fair Parks Initiative.” Members have called their supervisors and testified at budget hearings. They’ve developed “Unfair Facts” flyers to educate the public. You can help us year-round, so that we have a head start for next year’s budget as well. Continue to tell your supervisor how important parks are to you, your family, and your neighborhood.
Here at Green Spring Gardens we’re excited about putting in some of the new plants funded through the Annual Appeal. Thank you for your generosity. Come see the results! We’re also excited about the opening of the Plant Shop on April 16th. And, best of all, SPRING GARDEN DAY on May 14th was a great success! We were glad to see our many friends and FROGS members who came by to buy some wonderful plants, got their garden tools sharpened, and enjoyed delicious home-baked goods. Thank you for coming and supporting Green Spring Gardens!
