Niagara Bottling and NRPA Launch Perk Your Park Campaign
Three parks in North Georgia have been selected as finalists for the 2023 Niagara Perk Your Park Campaign, a nationwide initiative that aims to revitalize outdoor community spaces. The campaign is a partnership between Niagara Bottling, a leading beverage manufacturer, and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), a non-profit organization that advocates for the advancement of public parks and recreation.
The campaign invites the public to vote online for their favorite park project among the nine finalists. The top three projects will each receive a $75,000 grant from Niagara Bottling to implement their proposed improvements. The voting period runs from August 16 to September 18, 2023.
The three parks in North Georgia that are competing for the grant are Fowler Field Park in Douglasville, Phoenix Trail Park in College Park, and Rebel Valley Park in Atlanta. Each park has a unique vision for how to enhance their facilities and services for the benefit of their communities.
Fowler Field Park Plans to Add Rain Garden and Trail Improvements
Fowler Field Park is located on a floodplain and often suffers from storm water drainage issues. The park plans to use the grant money to create a rain garden that would help manage the excess water and provide a habitat for native plants and wildlife. The rain garden would also serve as an educational tool for visitors to learn about environmental stewardship and water conservation.
In addition, the park intends to improve its trail system by resurfacing it with crushed gravel. This would make the trails more accessible and enjoyable for walkers, joggers, bikers, and strollers. The park hopes that these upgrades would increase its appeal and usage among residents and visitors.
Phoenix Trail Park Aims to Develop New Trails and Add Dog Park
Phoenix Trail Park is a relatively new park that opened in 2020 as part of the Atlanta BeltLine project, a network of trails and parks that connects different neighborhoods in the city. The park currently features a paved trail, a playground, a picnic pavilion, and a community garden. The park wants to expand its offerings by developing new natural trails that would connect to the existing paved trail and offer more opportunities for recreation and exploration.
The park also plans to add a dog park that would provide a fenced area for dogs to run and play off-leash. The dog park would have separate sections for small and large dogs, as well as water stations, benches, and waste disposal stations. The park believes that these additions would attract more visitors and foster a sense of community among dog owners and lovers.
Rebel Valley Park Proposes to Refurbish Courts and Add New Exercise Equipment
Rebel Valley Park is an urban park that serves a diverse population of low-income families, seniors, students, and immigrants. The park features basketball courts, tennis courts, a soccer field, a playground, and a pavilion. The park wants to use the grant money to refurbish its courts with new surfacing, nets, hoops, and lighting. The park also wants to add new exercise equipment along the perimeter of the soccer field that would cater to different fitness levels and abilities.
The park hopes that these improvements would enhance the quality and safety of its facilities and encourage more physical activity and social interaction among its users. The park also hopes to partner with local organizations and schools to offer programs and events that would promote health and wellness in the community.
How to Vote for Your Favorite Park Project
If you want to support one of these parks in their quest for the $75,000 grant, you can visit the campaign website and cast your vote. You can vote once per day until September 18, 2023. You can also sign up for daily email reminders and share the campaign on social media using #PerkYourPark.
The winners will be announced on September 22, 2023 on [Niagara Bottling’s website] and [NRPA’s website]. The winning parks will then work with Niagara Bottling and NRPA to implement their projects within the next year.
