Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

Public engagement - fokag provides safe, culturally-enriching events year-round to help connect people to the park, hosting well-attended family days, summer concert series, and an annual photography contest. Fokag also promotes and supports the park's signature annual lotus and water lily festival, which attracts an average of 13,000 visitors each year

Education - through a one-week spring break camp and a two-week summer camp, fokag introduces hundreds of local children from the surrounding underserved community to the park a previously unknown or rarely visited resource in their backyard. Campers explore the wetlands, ponds, plants, and animals alongside teens and adults from their neighborhood, and then venture to other local parks to expand their experience. These programs foster a sense of belonging and lifelong appreciation for nature.

Stewardship - fokag provides human, financial, and material resources to help maintain the park. In 2022, more than 100 fokag volunteers contributed 300 hours of their time to remove and pick-up trash and support park projects. In a typical year, fokag brings in nearly 1,000 volunteers, however, volunteer activity was reduced significantly due to the covid-19 crisis. Grants secured by fokag have been used to upgrade park trails and infrastructure, design and install informational signs, and purchase amenities to enhance every visitor's experience. Fokag regularly acquires and donates much-needed supplies, such as landscaping tools and materials, and native plants. Fokag's fundraising efforts have also enabled the park to utilize local young adults' work crews for restoration projects - reinforcing commitment to the local community and the park.