Local parks get chance at a new start
IMPERIAL — This city is seeking support from anyone residing within the county to nominate it for a National Recreation and Park Association grant to improve a local park.
The NRPA is a nonprofit committed to safeguarding access to parks for recreation, health, conservation and social equity. And through its 60,000 park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages stewardship and preservation of public space.
NRPA, for the third year, is cooperating with The Walt Disney Company to revitalize parks across the nation. The city that receives the most nominations receives a $20,000 grant. Nominations start Saturday and run through April 30. The winning candidate should be known by May 18, noted Ember Haller, Imperial recreation program manager.
“Parks not only serve our residents but our surrounding community,” said Haller. “They provide a safe place to connect with people and nature to renew, recharge and regenerate.”
Eager Park, in the center of the city is the mostly likely candidate for improvement based on discussion between the city council and the city manager. Resources would likely be used to update existing equipment and add more features based on input from resident preferences.
The idea that parks in general are a fun place to go, visit with children and enhance the quality of life is being promoted during Earth Day month, but it would be an added benefit to win the $20,000 grant remarked Haller.
“Supporting local parks is essential to the vitality of communities everywhere,” said Lori Robertson, NRPA direc tor 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 and encourage everyone by giving back to places that shape so much of our lives by voting in the Meet Me At The Park campaign.”
Those interested in nominating the city of Imperial can visit: NRPA.org/BeInspired. They can also show what parks mean to the community by urging friends to nominate the city of Imperial by taking a selfie in Eager Park and using the hash tags: #MeetMeAtThePark, #Parkies and #BeInspired.
The city of Imperial is bound to providing quality parks to meet the needs of its residents for sports, fitness, leisure activities and stimulate a strong sense of community spirit.
“It’d be great to have enough nominations to put it back into Eager Park,” said Haller. “The splash pad is a high priority. We have schools that come down to use the splash pad here. It’s about 15 years old so it’d be nice to have a little restoration.”