McAllen – Thanks to the support of McAllen’s community members and their nominations this past Earth Month, McAllen won with the most write-in nominations as part of the Meet Me at the Parkcampaign, which took place April 1–30, 2017. The McAllen Parks and Recreation Department will receive a $20,000 grant from the National Recreation and Park Association and The Walt Disney Company, including Disney Citizenship, Disney|ABC Television Group and ESPN.
Meet Me at the Park helps to revitalize and restore local parks and park programs across the country. These park projects will connect kids to nature, inspire healthy living and provide access to sports. The campaign was promoted on social media, ABC Television Network, ABC-owned and affiliate stations, Freeform, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, the ABC app and other digital platforms.
The $20,000 grant for most write-in nominations will go to further develop and revitalize the McAllen Nature Center.
“Our community is always so supportive. They participated wholeheartedly in this great opportunity to receive funding,” McAllen Mayor Jim Darling said. “A $20,000 grant will go a long way in making park improvements to the McAllen Nature Center with no added cost to taxpayers. We are so thankful to our residents for helping us to secure this win. An engaged citizen is an important citizen.”
“Nearly 70,000 people participated in this year’s Meet Me at the Park campaign, a record number, demonstrating a tremendous amount of support and enthusiasm for local parks nationwide,” said Lori Robertson, NRPA director of conservation. “Many children and families in need will benefit from this campaign, which was made possible by the generosity of The Walt Disney Company. We want to thank them for helping us give back to the communities our members so proudly support.”
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About McAllen
The City of McAllen Parks & Recreation Department (McPARD) strives to improve the quality of life through the provision of well-balanced, high-quality recreation programs with a measurable value for the residents of McAllen to enjoy during their leisure time. The department provides attractive and well-maintained major parks and recreation facilities in each sector of the city that are within a reasonable distance of every surrounding neighborhood and offer safe opportunities for athletic competition, facility gatherings, and other passive and active recreation activities. In addition, theMcPARD promotes environmental conservation, eco and cultural tourism and socially oriented special events.
The National Recreation and Park Associationis 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, visitwww.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication,Parks & Recreation, visitwww.parksandrecreation.org.
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