The City of McAllen’s Parks & Recreation Department and McAllen Public Utility have been awarded the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) grant. The grant award is for $47,745 with no local match required.   The CO-OP grant provides funding for programming that engages under-represented populations and encourages outdoor recreation, conservation, and environmental education activities.

The grant will be used to start the McAllen Jr. Outdoor Adventures Program, which is a biannual outdoor summer program that will take place later this year, as well as the following year. Each experience consists of four day-long sessions that will target 120 low-income children ages 8 to 12 years old to engage in a variety of fun and educational outdoor activities.

“With this CO-OP grant, both the McAllen Parks & Recreation Department and McAllen Public Utility aim to leverage our collective resources and expertise to create a comprehensive summer program that addresses the diverse needs and interests of youth in our community,” said Denny Meline, Director, McAllen Parks & Recreation. “We will be creating a positive and enriching summer experience empowering participants to connect with nature, learn new skills, and become responsible stewards of the environment. We are grateful to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for their support and investment in our efforts to make a difference.”

The joint McAllen Parks & Recreation Department and McAllen Public Utility program will: promote environmental stewardship, nurture an interest in outdoor activities, and introduce local recreational facilities. The program will include visits to the McAllen Water Treatment Plant, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, McAllen’s Firemen’s Park, and McAllen Nature Center. Incorporating Project WILD and Aquatic WILD resources, participants will learn the fundamentals of nature photography, birdwatching, fishing, kayaking, and environmental education.

“Any help from our local, state and government agencies is very much appreciated and goes directly to better serving our rate payers,” said Mark Vega, General Manager, McAllen Public Utility.

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