The Gaithersburg Parks, Arts and Recreation Corporation (GPARC) is a nonprofit organization that promotes awareness, engages public and private partnerships, and raises resourcing to support new and matured parks, arts and recreation initiatives of the City of Gaithersburg. 

Grows capacity – Leverages resources and expertise in three vital arenas that impact all of Gaithersburg

Enhances civic participation – Expands volunteer opportunities for individuals and businesses to engage in creating a great place to live and work

Streamlines efforts – Unites and organizes the City’s support efforts under one umbrella organization

Sustains resources – Formalizes fundraising mechanisms and centralizes the coordination of initiatives with the City’s overall civic planning activities

GPARC is led by a Governing Board and has oversight of three special interest groups or “Alliances”. Committees or Friends of groups for specific programs and/or projects are aligned under one of the three Alliances.

The Governing Board provides oversight of the Alliances and their various friends groups to ensure that they are implementing the goals and objectives of the Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC) Element of the City’s Master Plan and to provide guidance and oversight of policies and procedural requirements. The board composition includes one or two persons from each alliance, individuals not necessarily associated with an alliance, and non-voting City staff. The Governing Board meets quarterly, with executive sessions as needed.  They have responsibility for governing activities of GPARC, including financial and legal, and for producing GPARC activity and financial reports to the City.

The purpose of the Alliance Boards is to manage and guide the Friends groups and like-minded community groups and to ensure they are implementing goals and objectives as defined in the PRC Master Plan, and that they are following all applicable policies and guidelines. 

The Alliance for Parks focuses on the enhancement of City parks and common green spaces, supporting their development, preservation, and if desirable, acquisition. 

The Alliance for Arts and Culture supports City projects, programs, initiatives, facilities and funding committees to advance arts and culture in our community.  It will work with current and future City committees including:

• Gaithersburg Book Festival Funding Committee
• Gaithersburg Chorus Funding Committee
• Arts in Public Places Funding Committee
• Arts Barn Funding Committee
• Gaithersburg Community Museum Funding Committee
• Gaithersburg Cultural Arts Events

The Alliance for Recreation supports programs to meet the recreational needs of our community.  It will work with current and future City committees and fundraising friends of groups including:

• Gaithersburg Senior Center Funding Committee