National ‘Meet Me at the Park’ Campaign Expands to Include New Healthy Living Initiative Focused on Play

Ashburn, Virginia, May 22, 2017 -- Thanks to a $1 million grant from The Walt Disney Company, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is proud to expand its national Meet Me at the Park campaign to include a new healthy living initiative focused on play. The primary goal of this new initiative is to provide additional communities with increased access to play spaces in local parks for children and families across the U.S.         

As part of the program, park and recreation agencies in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, are invited to share their best ideas on increasing access to play spaces for children and families. Agencies with the most innovative and impactful project ideas will receive grants ranging from $10,000–$50,000 to build their projects. This investment supports NRPA and Disney’s combined goal of providing one million kids and families with greater access to play.

“The emotional, cognitive and physical benefits of play are well known, therefore, every child and family should have access to safe play spaces,” said Kellie May, NRPA director of health and wellness. “Thanks to Disney’s generosity, we will be able to expand access to these vital spaces — helping create safe places to play.”

This new initiative comes on the heels of NRPA and Disney’s third-annual Meet Me at the Park Earth Month campaign, where funding was awarded for local park improvement projects that connect kids to nature, inspire healthy living and provide access to sports. The campaign celebrates Earth Month and the importance of local parks.

Applications for the play space grants will be accepted May 22–June 23, 2017. To apply, visit www.nrpa.org/disney.   

To learn more about Meet Me at the Park, visit www.nrpa.org/disney.

To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org. 

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About The National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is 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, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9622196c-4138-4eb6-acbd-8c27e56e93da

Heather Williams
National Recreation and Park Association
703-858-4743
[email protected]