We all have the power to make our communities better, and one often needs to look no further than a neighborhood park to spark change. TPL Community Strategies lead Cary Simmons moderated a Park Bench Chat with three inspiring individuals who have answered the call to make their communities happier, healthier, and more resilient by leveraging parks and green space to improve their neighborhoods and encourage deep local engagement and activism: Equipo Verde volunteer Sonia Rodriguez, who turned a dangerous, polluted alleyway into her community’s source of pride; Mantua Civic Association President De’Wayne Drummond, whose organization has long leveraged the 37th and Mt. Vernon Playground in West Philly as a platform for food and voter drives and keeping residents informed on issues affecting their neighborhood; and, Parque Padrinos Co-Founder Teresa Bendito who fights for park access as well as immigrant rights in her community of Wenatchee, Washington. Panelists highlighted their own journeys and offered advice on how participants can inspire change in their own communities. Cary provided a sneak peak of TPL’s new report, The Common Ground Framework.