Stacy Bare

Stacy Bare is the Executive Director of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, a position he has held since February 2022.1 He is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and brings over a decade of experience in conservation and outdoor recreation to this role.3

Professional Background

Stacy has a diverse professional background that includes:

1. Military Service: He served in the United States Army, including deployments to Bosnia and Iraq.4

2. Nonprofit Leadership: Prior to his current role, Stacy founded and led Veterans Expeditions, an organization focused on getting veterans outdoors.1

3. Consulting: He founded Bare, LLC, providing process improvement consulting for organizations working in conservation and at the intersection of health, wellness, and the outdoors.1

4. Brand Ambassador: Stacy served as a Brand Champion for The North Face from 2014 to 2017.1

Current Role and Vision

As Executive Director of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, Stacy is working towards making Grand Rapids the healthiest and most park-equitable city in America.1 His main goals include:

• Achieving 40% tree canopy coverage for Grand Rapids
• Ensuring all residents live within 10 minutes of a park or open space1

Stacy believes that planting trees and maintaining parks is not just about environmental and physical health benefits, but also about strengthening community connections.1 He emphasizes the importance of community organizing, volunteer engagement, workforce development, and environmental education in achieving these goals.1

Personal Interests

Outside of his professional life, Stacy is known as a husband, father, skier, biker, and general outdoorsman.2 He is passionate about encouraging people to explore Grand Rapids' park system and experience the transformative power of nature.5