Our Normal

We meet often overlooked communities where they are, everyday.

Basic Humanity

Everyone deserves to benefit from what parks can offer people and communities. To include economically stressed communities, parks must remove barriers to participation and foster health, belonging, and community.

Community-Led Decision Making

Empowering communities to decide what happens in their parks ensures park initiatives reflect individuals' needs, gifts and interests. When people and communities are actively involved, parks reflect the people they serve.

Connection First

People need meaningful relationships with nature before being inspired to contribute. A sustained connection to natural spaces propels community members to invest their time, talents, and money in their parks.

Love and Reciprocity

Parks are places to practice reciprocal love in economically stressed communities. When people experience a park's gifts and have the opportunity to give back, park love expands. Reciprocal love ripples outward, impacting how people feel about themselves, their communities, and their world.

Trauma-Informed Engagement

Incorporating trauma-informed engagement and programming ensures that parks are safe, supportive spaces for individuals who live in stressed communities. Understanding and responding to the effects of trauma promotes healing, resilience, and a sense of safety and belonging.

Continuous Learning and Adaptation

Restorative engagement requires continuous learning and adaptation. Parks must be dynamic spaces that evolve with nature and the community's changing needs and feedback. Regular feedback and flexibility in programming and design ensure that parks remain relevant, resilient, and beneficial.

Trusted Partnerships

Authentic relationships are essential to restorative park engagement. Respecting various perspectives, lifestyles, abilities, and roles leads to richer bonds that inspire individuals to show up, shift, contribute, and collaborate.

Quentin Milner

2026 Fellow

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Young Knowledgeable Men

youth mental health, parks, and peer support

Quentin Milner is an emerging RPE Fellow whose work through Young Knowledgeable Men centres the mental health and development of young men — using parks as spaces for reflection, peer support, and growth.

His program is in active development. Currently re-engaging after a pause, Quentin is refining his concept and identifying a core program direction — with a first pop-up planned to test his approach.

Quentin Milner with Snow Team Heroes volunteers — ‘It feels good’: DC’s youngest Snow Team Heroes shovel for senior neighbors, DC News Now

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