Making a Difference One Park at a Time: A Community Project by a Future Black Belt
Making a Difference One Park at a Time: A Community Project by a Future Black Belt
At True Balance Karate, we believe becoming a Black Belt is about more than mastering kicks and forms—it’s about becoming a leader and giving back to the community. One of our students took that challenge to heart by dedicating her Black Belt community service project to cleaning up local parks and making them safer, cleaner spaces for everyone to enjoy.
She chose to focus her efforts on three parks that held a special place in her childhood: River Road Park, Kingston Park, and McCullough Park. With help from her family, she walked through each one, collecting bags of trash, including discarded plastic bottles, random debris, and even a lone mitten. Her goal was simple: to make these parks cleaner and safer for the next generation of kids who, like her, deserve a place to play without worrying about broken glass or litter on the slides.
What inspired her? The memory of playing at these parks as a child and noticing how often they were messy and uninviting. She realized that just one person taking initiative could start a chain reaction. By setting an example, others might be encouraged to do the same—to take care of shared spaces, look out for each other, and help create a cleaner environment for everyone.
“I learned that even small actions can make a big difference,” she shared. “Helping the environment helps the people in it too. And if one person sees you doing something good, maybe they’ll pass it on. It’s like a domino effect.”
She wrapped up her presentation with a powerful message for the younger students listening: ask yourself, what can I do? Can I help at home? Can I pick up my toys or clean a park? Can I do something kind for someone else, even if it seems small? Every little bit matters.
Supporting the Mission: The Conservation Foundation
The spirit of her project aligns beautifully with the mission of The Conservation Foundation, a local nonprofit dedicated to preserving open space and protecting the environment in northeastern Illinois. Their work helps ensure our parks, rivers, and natural spaces remain safe, clean, and thriving for future generations. You can learn more about their efforts and how to get involved at theconservationfoundation.org.
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At True Balance Karate in Downers Grove, we help kids become strong, respectful, and independent—Black Belts in life, not just in class.
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