Residents Encouraged to Vote in April for a Philadelphia Park to Receive $20,000

PHILADELPHIA –This April, “Earth Month,” the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is collaborating with The Walt Disney Company, including Disney Citizenship, Disney|ABC Television Group and ESPN, to revitalize parks across the U.S. for the third year, including a park in Philadelphia. Through Meet Me at the Park, Philadelphia residents will chose one of three local parks to receive a $20,000 grant.

“We are thrilled to be a part of the Meet Me at the Park Campaign again this year,” said Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell.  “Parks and Recreation facilities are essential to Philadelphia’s health and wellbeing. Meet Me at the Park is a great way to connect our residents to their public spaces and implement an innovative project at one of our facilities.”

From April 1 to April 30 Philadelphia residents will have the opportunity to help one of three park projects receive $20,000 in grant funding to make improvements. The projects are:

  • Connect nature and technology by creating an app for the Wissahickon Environmental Center. You can vote for this project starting April 1 by texting wissahickon to 35350.*
  • Bring outdoor adventures inside at McVeigh Recreation Center. You can vote for this project starting April 1 by texting mcveigh to 35350.*
  • Provide new equipment and site upgrades at Philly Pumptrack. You can vote for this project starting April 1 by texting Phillypump to 35350.*

By visiting NRPA.org/BeInspired, park supporters can vote daily for their favorite park project. At the end of April, the park project with the most votes will receive grant funding. New this year, everyone who votes will be entered into a drawing for a tablet outfitted for the outdoors.

Park supporters are encouraged to vote and take a selfie in their favorite park using the hashtags #MeetMeAtThePark, #Parkies and #BeInspired.

“Supporting local parks is essential to the health and vitality of communities everywhere,” said Lori Robertson, NRPA Director of Conservation. “That’s why we are proud to collaborate with The Walt Disney Company to help fund critical park improvement projects in communities in need. We encourage everyone to join us in giving back to the places that shape so much of our lives by voting in this year’s Meet Me at the Park campaign.”

During April, a public service announcement (PSA) supporting the Meet Me at the Park campaign will be shared with audiences across Disney, including ABC Television Network, ABC-owned and affiliate stations, Freeform, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, the ABC app and other digital platforms. The PSA will also be available to view on the voting site at www.nrpa.org/beinspired. Additionally, Radio Disney will support the campaign with an on-air radio spot.

Last year, Philadelphia voted for Northern Liberties Recreation Center to win $20,000. With that funding, the community is now able to enjoy more greenery throughout the playground from living walls and green fences. This year, resident votes will help improve another one of Philadelphia’s parks. Nationally, more than $600,000 has been awarded to help fund local park improvement projects as part of the Meet Me at the Park campaign.

For more information and to vote, visit NRPA.org/BeInspired.

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About Philadelphia Parks and Recreation
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of her people through intentional and sustained stewardship of over 10,200 acres of public land and waterways as well as through hundreds of safe, stimulating recreation, environmental and cultural centers. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the City’s residents by connecting them to the natural world around them, to each other and to fun, physical and social opportunities. PPR is responsible for the upkeep of historically significant Philadelphia events and specialty venues, and works collaboratively with communities and organizations in leading capital projects and the introduction of inventive programming. To learn more about Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, visit us at www.phila.gov/parksandrec, and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr.

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 nearly 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.

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