Residents of Forest Park can help our park district get a $20,000 grant by logging in once a day until the end of April.
According to Rachell Entler, the Park District of Forest Park’s recreation supervisor, “The grant is being offered by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) and the Walt Disney Company. The way it works is that residents of Forest Park can log in with an email address NRPA.org/BeInspired and then nominate Forest Park. You can vote once per day. The highest vote getter at the end of April will receive the grant. The only thing that will determine which community gets the grant is the number of votes received.”
The only restriction on the money from the NRPA is that it needs to be used to improve local parks through projects that connect kids to nature, inspire children and families to live healthier lifestyles, and increase kids’ access to sports.
“We would like to apply it toward new equipment for the Family Recreation Center and The Park,” Entler said. “This grant would allow us to upgrade or add equipment.”
Government grants, she said, have played a crucial role in many of the projects the park district have taken on, including the new recreation center being built.
“Any grant money we get allows us to use taxpayer dollars for other project expenses,” said Entler. “Please vote,” she added, “and help us spread the word about this grant opportunity.”
An announcement sent out by the park district explained, “For Earth Month, The National Recreation and Park Association and the Walt Disney Company, including Disney Citizenship, Disney/ABC Televison Group, and ESPN, have collaborated on Meet Me at the Park, a project to help revitalize parks across the country that could include a park in Forest Park. The collaboration is an opportunity to give back to the places that have shaped so many of our lives.”
