City seeks online votes to win parks grant

Grants helped Yuma secure funds needed to make the recent improvements to Joe Henry Optimist Center. Now, the city is asking residents for their help in the quest for its next opportunity.

The city needs members of the public to cast their online votes to secure another $20,000 grant to help improve one of the local parks. The National Recreation and Parks Association and The Walt Disney Company challenged U.S. cities in a contest called Meet Me at the Park Earth Month. To win, residents must nominate their city online. The community with the most votes at the end of April wins $20,000.

Residents ages 18 and over are allowed to nominate Yuma once each day during the month of April at this page on the NRPA’s website: https://tinyurl. com/y93tsjet.

“We can do this, since a city smaller than Yuma (McAllen, Texas) won this last year,” noted Parks and Recreation Director Debbie Wendt. “Please vote each day, and encourage friends, family and those with whom you work to vote each day also.”

The daily voting includes Saturdays and Sundays. The deadline is April 30.

Due to rising costs and a series of cost shifts from the state, the city had to raise some recreation program fees last year.

“Helping us win grants allows us to continue to improve our facilities as our community continues to grow,” Wendt said.