Common Grounds has developed a suite of services specifically for municipal land managers, planners, park programmers, professional associations, corporate and institutional landowners, elected officials and others. Drawing on our expertise in green space policy, strategic planning, program development, urban planning, ecological landscaping, and community mobilization, we offer:

Professional Training Workshops

that highlight innovative policy and program options for protecting, enhancing and stewarding local green spaces through creative partnership-based approaches. For more information, and a list of workshops delivered to date, click here.

Research, guidebooks and resources

that document the benefits of urban green spaces and strategies that have been adopted to transform them into thriving community spaces. To read Urban Naturalization in Canada: a Policy and Program Guidebook and our other professional resources, click here.

Professional Consultation

Our team of ecologists, environmental planners, garden designers and community animators offers customized support to municipalities, social service agencies public institutions and other landowners of a fee-for service basis. 

Program Development

We support the development of programs and strategies that engage the public and other partners in successful naturalization, community gardening, greenspace animation and environmental education projects: 

• Community Outreach Engagement – through extensive outreach, we help communities articulate their vision and develop plans to achieve it through a participatory process.
• Policy Review and Support – we conduct peer reviews of naturalization plans, heritage studies and other policy initiatives
• Site Planning and Restoration – we develop ecological restoration plans, naturalization guidelines and invasive species management strategies to increase biodiversity, habitat values and educational values

For information about professional training workshops that we have previously delivered, click here.

Speaker Series

Common Grounds staff are available to speak at your event on urban greening issues. We regularly address conferences, public forums, workshops university classes and others. Please contact us to for more information including applicable fees.

For more information about Common Grounds Professional Services, please contact Stewart Chisholm.