As the year comes to an end, we want to take a moment to say THANK YOU! With your support, The Parklands soared through its first year as a fully operational park. With all four parks open and connected, we were able to see the true amount of work it will take to keep this new system maintained to a world-class standard for years to come. The good news: the community is up to the task! As of November 1, 2017, The Parklands has gathered support from more than 2,600 Members—meeting our goal for the year and proving what we already knew—the community is willing to support well-maintained public parks and they are making a difference in these citizen’s lives. Because of you, we are able to sustain and preserve these parks for years to come, so thank you for your support! 

• Traffic counters are on track to record 3 million visits!
• The Parklands has gathered support from more than 2,600 Members.
• The garden and natural areas teams planted over 5,300 trees and shrubs, while nurturing existing gardens, meadows and forests. 
• The education team delivered STEAM-based programming to 19,000 curious visitors. Over 4,500 students received scholarships!
• The exciting Silo Center Bike Park, located in Turkey Run Park, opened to the public on September 18, 2017.
• Volunteers donated 11,000 hours working in our gardens, natural areas, classrooms, trails, and supporting events.

See below for some of our favorite photos from 2017. Thank you for a wonderful year, and we can’t wait to see you out in The Parklands in 2018! 

2017 Solar Eclipse at Beckley Creek Park. Photo by Greg Lickteig. 

Mayor Greg Fischer at the Silo Center Bike Park in Turkey Run Park. 

2017 Summer Camps at The Parklands. Photo by John Nation.

Volunteer(s) planting trees at Distillery Bend in Beckley Creek Park.  

2017 Junior Explorer. 

Members getting a sneak peek of the Woodland Garden in Broad Run Park. 

Seasonal trout stocking. Photo by Evan Patrick. 

September 2017, Silo Center Bike Park opening. 

Rehabilitated raptor release in Turkey Run Park, thanks to Second Chance Wildlife. 

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