National Recreation and Park Association Building New Park in St. Louis

ASHBURN, Va., Oct. 13, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has partnered with Great Rivers Greenway, the regional parks and trails district in the St. Louis region, and the city of Wellston, Missouri, to transform a vacant lot into a vibrant community park. With contributions from national vendors and local companies alike, this partnership aims to create a safe place for families to gather and play.

The site chosen for next year's Parks Build Community project is along the St. Vincent Greenway, a 7-mile urban biking and walking trail that will connect a regional hub, Forest Park, to multiple transit stops and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The partnership will collaborate over the next year to open this new park during NRPA's Annual Conference in October 2016, which will bring thousands of park and recreation professionals to the surrounding area.

"Local parks are the essential foundation to vibrant, thriving communities, and we know that where there are parks, there are healthy, active, engaged people," says Barbara Tulipane, NRPA president and CEO. "With every Parks Build Community project, we see just how evident this is, and we couldn't be more thrilled to be working with partners in St. Louis to bring a very deserving community the transformative benefits that a local park can provide."

"The city of Wellston is thrilled for the opportunity to establish a new park," says Mayor Nathaniel Griffin. "We are grateful for the many partners and donors who see the impact of this kind of project. We want to do everything we can to give kids a great place to play and our whole community a space to come together."

The ultimate goal is a dynamic gathering space that transforms the local community and is embraced and treasured by residents for years to come. NRPA will work with its national partners and suppliers to provide equipment donations for the site. The city of Wellston, Great Rivers Greenway and the local nonprofit and business community will also be involved in bringing this park to life. Nonprofit partner Beyond Housing is engaging residents to ensure that this park directly reflects community priorities.

NRPA's Parks Build Community is an ongoing national initiative to demonstrate the transformative value of parks and recreation on communities. The environment, health, wellness and social equity of communities can all be improved through the revitalization of parks. This will be the sixth Parks Build Community project aligned with the NRPA Annual Conference.

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 50,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.NRPA.org. To learn more about Parks Build Community, visit www.nrpa.org/parksbuildcommunity.