The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), today, announced the recipients of its 2019 Meet Me at the Park Play Spaces grants. Part of a $1 million donation by The Walt Disney Company, this grant funding supports projects that increase access to play spaces in local parks for children and families, and provides NRPA with resources to help promote the benefits of play to local communities across the United States.
The 25 communities receiving $30,000 grants are as follows:
- City of King Cove, Alaska —King Cove Playground
- City of Eureka, California — Clara May Berry Park/Humboldt County Library
- City of Morgan Hill, California — Galvan Park
- Hayward, California —Mia’s Dream Come True/Tennyson Park
- Los Angeles County, California —Mobile Play in South Los Angeles
- San Francisco, California — Alice Chalmers Playground
- City of New Britain, Connecticut —Stanley Quarter Park
- City of Homestead, Florida —Losner Park
- City of Orlando, Florida —Lorna Doone Park Inclusive Playground Project
- Wheeling, Illinois — Mobile playground
- City of South Bend, Indiana — Revitalization of Howard Park
- City of Garden City, Kansas — Harold Long Park
- City of Belmont, North Carolina — Linford Park inclusive playground
- Durham, North Carolina —Burton Park playground
- Scotland County, North Carolina — Washington Park Playground Makeover
- Borough of Audubon, New Jersey — Recreation Center Park
- New York City, New York — Fitness Mobile
- Lincoln City, Oregon — nature play area
- City of Brownsville, Texas — Inclusion Caboose Project in Linear Park
- City of Nolanville, Texas — Monarch Park
- Houston, Texas — Clark Park soccer field
- Chesterfield County, Virginia — Mobile playground
- Hopewell, Virginia — Kings Court Playground renovation
- City of Kent, Washington — Meridian Glenn Park Playground
- Winnebago County, Wisconsin — The Natural Way/Winnebago County Community Park
These grantees join the ranks of 50 park improvement projects funded through the Meet Me at the Park Play Spaces grant program. Previously, this program has funded unique and innovative projects such as improvements to Foundation Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where the community sought to celebrate the rich Hmong culture of its neighbors through vibrant playground surfacing. For many years, the pocket-park, a victim of arson, had stood with only a couple of swings for local children to enjoy. Now the park is filled with new equipment and delighted kids who are greeted upon entry with “peace poles” created by members of the community. The peace poles are embedded with handmade pottery as well as pieces of paper containing their hopes and dreams for their neighborhood’s future. The park improvements have opened up access to play and opportunities for residents to come together as friends and neighbors.
“NRPA is proud to award these cities and agencies with grant funding that will support increased access to play and physical activity in cities nationwide,” said Kellie May, NRPA vice president of programs. “We thank The Walt Disney Company for its commitment to this cause. Its ongoing support is essential to the work we do, especially with children and families who don’t have access to quality play spaces, and to our vision that everyone deserves a great park.”
Additionally, evaluation of previous projects show parks with renovated play areas had a positive effect on park use and park-based physical activity including an increase in visitors engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
As part of The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to healthy living, Meet Me at the Park has brought the fun of parks and recreation to children and families across the United States since 2014. This program is part of NRPA and Disney’s commitment to provide 1 million kids and families with greater access to play — ensuring everyone has a safe place to play, learn and live a healthier lifestyle.
To learn more about Meet Me at the Park, visit www.nrpa.org/MeetMeatthePark.
To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.
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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, 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. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.