Friends Of Grand Rapids Parks Director Brings Nature To The Community

Stacy Bare’s life has taken him across the globe — from being stationed in Germany while serving in the Army, to skiing the tallest mountain in Iraq, to raising his family in Utah. He boasts a wealth of rich experiences, including filmmaking, writing and research, and has even won the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Award.

In addition to his role as a husband and father, Bare is most committed to ensuring everyone in Grand Rapids has access to the “transformative power of nature” in his role as the Executive Director of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks. We spoke with Bare about his experiences with Friends of Grands Rapids Parks and what he loves most about being part of the community.

Answers have been edited for clarity and length.

Patch: How long have you lived in Michigan, and how did you get involved with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks?

Bare: [My family and I have been here] 14 months. We had been living in Utah the last decade but kept coming to Michigan to visit friends and family. We love the outdoor opportunities in Michigan, all the water and the chance to be involved in a community creating positive change. So we looked for work in West Michigan, and with a background in outdoor recreation and nonprofit leadership, I was lucky enough to get hired by Friends of Grand Rapids Parks.

Patch: What is one achievement you’re most proud of in your time at Friends of Grand Rapids Parks?

Bare: There are so many incredible people here. I am most honored that 400+ members of our community showed up to plant trees with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks last spring. Being able to plant a tree with my wife and daughter is one of the best feelings in the world. Doing it with 400 other Grand Rapidians? Priceless! Our goal is to plant 15,000 more in the next five years. Let's get to work!

Patch: Can you tell us more about what you and your team do at Friends of Grand Rapids Park, and what you enjoy most about the work?

Bare: We do a lot at Friends of Grand Rapids Parks — from our Explore Your Park Series this summer, where we introduce people to all the amazing adventures available in their parks, to tree planting events, to working with corporations, organizations and dedicated individuals to restore the 600 acres of forests in Grand Rapids through invasive species control. I most enjoy working with and getting to meet so many incredible residents from such diverse backgrounds!

Patch: What's one thing you wish others knew about Grand Rapids Parks?

Bare: [I wish people knew] how amazing our park system is in Grand Rapids. We have a lot of work to do, but that work is so we can go from great to greater. I want everyone to feel like their parks, or at least a park, are relevant to their daily lives and help support long term health and happiness for all people!

Patch: What do you love most about being a part of the Grand Rapids community?

Bare: [I love] the can-do attitude of Grand Rapids. We have a lot of work to do to appropriately honor, engage with and center the leadership of those we've long overlooked as a community — our indigenous communities, the Black community and the Latino community, among others — but people are coming together to create something bigger than the sum of its parts.

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