Washington Parks & People

What Washington Parks & People does

Washington Parks & People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 (originally as Friends of Meridian Hill) that revitalizes public lands and neighborhood greenspaces across Washington, DC to advance community health, equity, and environmental justice. The organization operates four core programs: Community Harvest (urban agriculture and food justice across 30+ sites in all eight DC Wards), Green Corps (8-week green-economy workforce development program that has launched 261 graduates into careers), Heart & Soul (outdoor wellness and community health programming), and ParkArts (arts, culture, and events activating park spaces). Operational footprint spans four flagship parks and community spaces: Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park (Northwest DC, headquarters site), the historic 18,000-square-foot Josephine Butler Parks Center, the Riverside Healthy Living Center at Marvin Gaye Park (Northeast DC), and Columbia Heights Green.

The organization does not develop proprietary technology; instead it deploys community-led urban agriculture, environmental restoration, park management methodologies, and a Tripleseat-based venue rental booking system. Its technology footprint is limited to standard nonprofit operational tooling (contact emails segmented by function: info, volunteer, giveandgrow, join, share, and steve.coleman for legacy giving), a Vimeo video library, and a website at washingtonparks.net.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit structure: earned revenue from event venue rentals (wedding and corporate rates of $4,000-$9,400 at JBPC and $540-$1,080 at Riverside) directly subsidizes program operations, while individual donations, multi-tier memberships (Stream/Seed/Park/Community tiers at $25-$250+ annually), foundation grants (Cafritz, Meyer, Consumer Health, Kaiser Mid-Atlantic and others), and corporate sponsorships (BCG, Deloitte, Whole Foods) provide the bulk of funding. The organization explicitly receives $0 in government funding for core operations. Customer and constituent segments span DC residents (general), returning citizens and job seekers, health-conscious individuals, event hosts (weddings and corporate), and volunteers/members. Distribution is fully direct through park sites, venues, and partner organizations (DC Parks and Recreation, DC Urban Greens, GALA Hispanic Theatre, Son La Lucha, EPA Chesapeake Bay Program, The Corps Network, American Forests).

Name

Washington Parks & People

Legal name

Washington Parks & People

Website

https://washingtonparks.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Washington Parks & People is a 36-year-old DC nonprofit that revitalizes 300+ parks and greenspaces through four programs (urban agriculture, green-jobs training, community health, and park arts), serving DC residents, returning citizens, and event hosts across all eight wards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Park Revitalization Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI)

Keywords

• Community land reclamation
• Urban agriculture programs
• Green job training
• Park revitalization services
• Nonprofit community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: The organization generates revenue through individual donations, membership fees, and charitable contributions. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations are tax-deductible. The website states 100% of donations go directly to program impacts as core costs are covered through their green social enterprise model.
2. Event Space Rentals: Revenue generated from renting out event venues including the Josephine Butler Parks Center (historic mansion) and Riverside Healthy Living Center. These venues host weddings, corporate events, and community gatherings. Rental fees range from $4,000 to $9,400 depending on venue and season.
3. Community Harvest Program Produce: Fresh organic produce grown at the Marvin Gaye Greening Center and community gardens is donated to local Ward 7 and 8 families at no cost, with some used in healthy cooking demonstrations. This is a community benefit rather than revenue-generating activity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Washington Parks & People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization that revitalizes public parks and neighborhood greenspaces across Washington, DC through four core programs: Community Harvest (urban agriculture and food justice), Green Corps (green workforce development), Heart & Soul (community health and wellness), and ParkArts (arts and cultural activation). The organization also operates event venues (Josephine Butler Parks Center and Riverside Healthy Living Center) whose rental revenue funds its community programs under a green social enterprise model.

Product overview

Washington Parks & People operates as a nonprofit community organization offering four core programs that work together to advance park-based community health, equity, and environmental justice. The programs include Community Harvest (urban agriculture and food justice), Green Corps (green job training and workforce development), Heart & Soul (wellness and community health programming), and ParkArts (arts and culture in public spaces). Additionally, the organization manages multiple event venues and community spaces including the historic Josephine Butler Parks Center for weddings and special events, the Riverside Healthy Living Center at Marvin Gaye Park, the Marvin Gaye Greening Center (one-acre urban farm), and Columbia Heights Green community garden. The portfolio functions as a unified approach to community revitalization through parks, with venue rentals generating earned revenue that supports the programming operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Harvest Urban farming, food justice, and sustainable agriculture program providing community gardens, mini-farms, nutrition education, healthy cooking classes, and garden leadership training to DC residents.
• Green Corps Award-winning 8-week workforce development program preparing DC residents for careers in the green economy, including landscaping, urban forestry, invasive species removal, trail building, and stormwater management.
• Heart & Soul Wellness and community health programming that brings free and low-cost wellness programs to neighborhoods across DC, including outdoor fitness classes, walking groups, youth nature play, and nutrition education.
• ParkArts Arts and culture program that activates greenspaces with music, murals, youth arts programs, and cultural celebrations including outdoor concerts, mural-making, and community festivals.
• Josephine Butler Parks Center Historic 18,000-square-foot Renaissance Revival mansion event venue overlooking Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park offering multi-purpose performance spaces, art exhibition galleries, and event hosting for weddings, receptions, and community programs.
• Riverside Healthy Living Center Historic community hub at Marvin Gaye Park featuring a 2,000-square-foot event space, 1,000-square-foot teaching kitchen and cafe, youth bike repair station, and seedling center for organic urban agriculture.
• Marvin Gaye Greening Center One-acre urban farm and cultural hub at 5000 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE serving Ward 7, providing green job training, cultural programming, park-based health programs, and year-round food production distributed to Ward 7 and 8 families.
• Columbia Heights Green Community urban farm and green space in Columbia Heights featuring organic raised-bed gardens, butterfly gardens, berry patches, a greenhouse, native flowering and shade trees, and learning/gathering space producing fresh organic produce.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ parks, gardens, and public spaces restored
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Corps NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington Parks & People is sponsored by and a member of The Corps Network, a national nonprofit supporting youth and young adults through conservation, service, and workforce development. This affiliation strengthens the organization's ability to advance equitable access to green spaces, environmental stewardship, and community-based programming throughout Washington, D.C.
• American ForestsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor donor and partner supporting urban forestry and tree planting initiatives
• DC Department of the EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for environmental programs and sustainability initiatives across DC
• DC Department of TransportationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting transportation and trail-related projects
• DC Commission on the Arts and HumanitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment arts agency partner supporting ParkArts programming and cultural events in parks
• United States Forest Service / Metropolitan Washington Council of GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal and regional partners supporting forest conservation and environmental programs
• United States Department of Agriculture / UDC Center for Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal and university partners supporting urban agriculture, sustainability, and environmental sciences programming at Riverside Healthy Living Center
• DC WaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtility partner supporting stormwater management and water-related environmental programs
• National Parks and Recreation AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association partner supporting parks and recreation initiatives
• National Fish and Wildlife FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner supporting wildlife habitat and environmental conservation projects
• Boston Consulting GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing consulting and strategic support
• DeloitteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing professional services and support
• Whole FoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting local food systems and community nutrition
• Borger Management, IncminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty management partner supporting community initiatives
• Peabody and Theoharis ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty management partner supporting community programs
• Training GroundsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner supporting workforce development programs
• DC Parks and RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner co-managing Riverside Healthy Living Center and park programming
• DC Urban GreenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in operating model urban farm and community greening initiatives at Riverside
• GALA Hispanic TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner for Park'N Lot Stories program addressing gentrification and displacement at Columbia Heights Green
• Son La LuchaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner for SudorFest music celebration bringing together DC musicians across all genres
• Environmental Protection Agency – Chesapeake Bay ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal environmental partner supporting watershed restoration and environmental programs
• District of Columbia GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC Government partner supporting park operations and community programming through various agencies

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Park Trust: Nonprofit dedicated to preserving parks and engaging youth in outdoor stewardship; shares WP&P's park revitalization, youth engagement, and community-based conservation programming.
• Student Conservation Association: National conservation service organization engaging youth and young adults in park stewardship, conservation, and workforce development — closely aligned with WP&P's Green Corps workforce development mission.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on creating parks and protecting land for people, with community-led park creation programs directly comparable to Washington Parks & People's urban greenspace revitalization model.
• The Corps Network: National nonprofit supporting youth and young adults through conservation, service, and workforce development — already a sponsor of WP&P and a direct comparator on the Green Corps-style service corps model.
• City Parks Alliance: National nonprofit advancing the creation of vibrant, accessible urban parks; comparable as a parks-focused advocacy and stewardship organization operating at the intersection of community health and park revitalization.
• Groundwork USA: National network of local Groundwork trusts doing environmental restoration, urban greening, and youth green job training — directly analogous to WP&P's Community Harvest, Green Corps, and park restoration programs.

Regional players

• Rock Creek Conservancy: DC-area nonprofit dedicated to restoring Rock Creek Park through volunteer stewardship and education — comparable as a DC-restricted parks/greenspace nonprofit reliant on community volunteers.
• Casey Trees: Washington, DC-based nonprofit focused on urban tree planting, canopy goals, and green workforce — a regional peer with overlapping urban forestry, green jobs, and DC-specific community greening mission.
• Anacostia Watershed Society: DC-area nonprofit protecting and restoring the Anacostia River watershed through education, stewardship, and youth programs — a regional peer sharing WP&P's DC geography, environmental restoration, and youth engagement focus.

Broad incumbents

• The Conservation Fund: National environmental nonprofit focused on land and water conservation with broader geographic and thematic reach — comparable as a larger, established conservation/land stewardship incumbent with overlapping partner network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/josephinebutlerparkscenter
• Xx.com/washingtonparks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-parks-and-people

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington Parks & People