ACT Modesto: Youth Driven, Park Equity Project

Hear our first Park Youth Committee cohort share their about their work to increase safe and equitable park access for Modesto's youth and families.
The Modesto team at Tuolumne River Trust is on a mission to create safe and equitable access to parks for all children. In partnership with All Children Thrive (ACT), a statewide initiative dedicated to improving child well-being, we're tackling this critical issue head on. Our programmatic staff in the Central Valley is the backbone of the ACT Modesto team, working tirelessly to co-design solutions that will heal adverse childhood experiences and transform futures.
With ACT's funding and support, we've assembled a Park Youth Committee (PYC) of nine high school students and two young adult mentors to lead the Park Equity Project. These youth, representing their own communities, are elevating their voices to address park equity issues they face in their neighborhood parks. By working hand in hand with local communities, we've identified the top priorities and concerns related to park access - safety, functioning amenities, recreational opportunities, and accessibility.