Neighbours who saved their park
Les Amis du Parc (“Friends of the Park”) is a non-profit neighbourhood association that keeps the Parc des Tilleuls in Nantes alive. Its members saved the park in 2009, and never left.
A car park? No thanks.
In 2009, a car park project threatened the Parc des Tilleuls. Local residents got together to defend it, and founded the association.
We won, and we stayed! The park is still here, and a whole neighbourhood life has grown around it: a shared garden, a festival every June, summer concerts, workshops with schools and a seed library.
- 2009the association is founded
- 240members
- ≈ 30active volunteers
- 4local schools in gardening workshops
Whatever your age, whatever your language
Many families from other countries and Erasmus students live around the park. Everyone is welcome at Les Amis du Parc: that’s why this site speaks French and English.
Who runs the association
Three people on the board, and around thirty active volunteers to keep everything going.
Martine Le Goff
President
Karim Benali
Treasurer
Sophie Nguyen
Secretary
How the association is funded
No big patron: the association lives thanks to the neighbourhood. Every membership and every drink served at the park festival’s refreshment stand counts.
Our three sources of funding
- Membership fees from our 240 members
- The refreshment stand at the park festival
- A grant from the City of Nantes for the workshops in schools
What the park has given them
« Je suis arrivée dans le quartier sans connaître personne. Un an après, j’ai une parcelle et plein d’amis. »Translation: I moved to the neighbourhood without knowing anyone. A year later, I have a garden plot and lots of friends.
“The summer concerts under the trees are the best thing about living here.”Want to be part of it?
Become a member, lend a hand or simply come to one of our get-togethers: we’re looking forward to meeting you.