The Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) is inviting Loudoun residents to cast votes during the month of April to help the department win a grant for park improvements. The community with the most nominations wins a grant through the national “Meet Me at the Park” campaign.
During Earth Month 2017, 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. The community with the most nominations will receive a $20,000 grant to improve a local park.
“At PRCS, we believe that local parks make Loudoun a better place to live by playing a vital role in our residents’ health and wellbeing,” said PRCS Director Steve Torpy. They provide safe places for active and passive recreation, bring people together and preserve our natural resources. That’s why we are encouraging residents who love our parks to submit a nomination.”
If Loudoun wins the award, the grant money would help launch a community garden project at three Sterling, Virginia sites: Claude Moore Park, Gwen Thompson Briar Patch Park and Sterling Community Center park area. The desire of people to connect with nature and create more sustainable local food systems continues to grow across the country. Part of this (sub)urban agricultural revolution is the development of community gardens, which can provide fresh produce and plants, while fostering a sense of community and connection between local residents. The selected sites are located in an area of the county with a higher population density and in which neighborhood residents have expressed an interest. The raised garden beds proposed would provide an opportunity for residents to grow plants, vegetables and flowers to enhance their family’s physical and mental health. “This is in keeping with our vision of creating community through our people, parks and programs,” added Torpy.
From April 1 through April 30, 2017, supporters can visit www.nrpa.org/beinspired to cast their vote for Loudoun County, Virginia. During the month, a national public service announcement about the campaign will be shared across broadcast channels, radio and digital platforms, and available for viewing at www.nrpa.org/beinspired.
Loudoun voters can encourage friends to nominate Loudoun County by taking a selfie in their favorite park and using the hashtags #MeetMeAtThePark, #Parkies and #BeInspired. For more information and to nominate Loudoun County, visit www.nrpa.org/beinspired (type Loudoun County for "city" and select Virginia), or contact prcs@loudoun.gov.
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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. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org.