PARKS BUILD COMMUNITY
Parks and Playgrounds Are Essential
Imagine being a child and growing up without a park or playground. More than 100 million people do not have ready access to quality parks and recreation. Many times, even if a park is available, due to funding cuts, some are in such a state of disrepair, it’s of no use to the community it is meant to serve. Play is a critical part of childhood development. It allows children to be creative while they develop their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play, that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them. Through play, children learn to interact with their peers, engage in new experiences and conquer their fears.1 Living close to parks and other recreation facilities helps reduce obesity and incidence of chronic desease by providing individuals with opportunities to increase rigorous physical activity in a variety of forms. Additionally, parks provide a connection to nature, which studies demonstrate relieves stress levels, strengthens interpersonal relationships, and improves mental health. At the community level, parks and recreation agencies play an importnat role in helping build community and environmental resiliency.
Parks Build Community The vision to build and revitalize parks as thriving gathering places for youth, families and adults is one shared by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), our industry and non-profit partners, and the thousands of park and recreation professionals who develop and maintain these treasured public places. Since 2009, NRPA’s Parks Build Community (PBC) program has provided safe and inclusive parks and playgrounds to thousands of children and families across the country. Whether they are the site of family reunions, artistic performances, a pickup basketball game or innovative playground designs, these park and recreation spaces have generated neighborhood pride and given young and old a safe place to be physically active and enjoy community green space. NRPA’s first PBC project was located in the nation’s capital. The Marvin Gaye Park included the installation of a state-ofthe-art playground, as well as cleanup and beautification of the surrounding area. Over the years, PBC either created or restored parks in Atlanta; Baltimore; Charlotte, North Carolina; Houston; Los Angeles; New Orleans; Las Vegas; and Wellston, Missouri. Our most recent park, Grand Avenue Park in Orlando, 1 https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/1/182
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PARKS BUILD COMMUNITY
Community members enjoying the newly renovated 2019 Parks Build Community park, Catherine/ABC Park, in Baltimore, Maryland.
Florida, was part of a larger community project that included significant renovations and transformed the area into a vibrant public space where residents of all ages can gather and play. NRPA’s PBC program represents an exemplary private-public partnership model. Contributions by NRPA and our corporate partners enable local communities and park agencies to complete projects that improve the quality of life for children and families and provide a lasting impact for years to come.
“It was the only park in the neighborhood. I noticed it was run down. Everything was going on in the park except the kids playing.” Derwinn Hannah, Community Leader/President, Friends of Catherine Street/ABC Park, Baltimore, Maryland 2019 NRPA Parks Build Community Beneficiary
PHOTO COURTESY OF NRPA, BY CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT PHOTOGRAPHY.
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a park or playground in their neighborhood.
Parks Build Community in Your Community
Children playing on newly donated and installed playground equipment at a PBC grand reopening.
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PARKS BUILD COMMUNITY
PHOTO COURTESY OF NRPA, BY CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT PHOTOGRAPHY.
NRPA is leading the movement to elevate the role of close-tohome park and recreation services and the professionals who make it happen. Part of our vision is a future where all people have fair and just access to the benefits of quality parks and recreation. Achieving this future requires that we recognize the systemic inequities that have created very different lived experiences in communities across the country — differences based on factors like racial disparities and socioeconomic gaps. Working with local communities and park and recreation agencies, NRPA uses the CDC’s social vulnerability index, among other criteria, to identify and restore or build a new park and playground where it can have the maximum health, environmental and economic benefits for the local community. Whether the project goal is to create a dynamic gathering space to experience new ways to play, hold family reunions, enjoy live music or play a pickup basketball game, everyone deserves a great park. Traditionally, the opening of the park kicks off NRPA’s annual conference which draws thousands of park and recreation professionals, industry leaders, allies and friends. The ribbon cutting ceremony is attended by city and park officials, industry partners, park enthusiasts, and community children and their parents and their advocates. Upcoming PBC parks will be located in the following cities: • Chattanooga, Tennessee (2021) • Phoenix, Arizona (2022) • Dallas, Texas (2023) • Atlanta, Georgia (2024)
“Parks are places where kids learn the values of life….to play and learn the lessons of how to win, how to lose with grace, with dignity and become great citizens.” Mitch Landrieu, Former Mayor of New Orleans
Become a Parks Build Community Partner We invite you to partner with NRPA to make access to safe play spaces for children and quality park and recreation facilities a reality in order to build healthy and safe communities for all. To learn more about NRPA’s Parks Build Community program, visit nrpa.org/parksbuildcommunity. To become a PBC Partner, make a donation or donate equipment, contact NRPA at (703) 858-2163 or partnerships@nrpa.org.
NRPA Parks Build Community partners have included: • Accella Polyurethane Systems • Active Network • American Ramp Company • BCI Burke Company • California Sports Surfaces • Concordia • Cornilleau • Dero • Dogipot • DuMor • EPIC Outdoor Cinema • FlexGround • ForeverLawn • Forum • Freenotes Harmony Parks • GameTime • GARED • Greenfields Outdoor Fitness • ICON Shelter Systems • iZone • Johns Hopkins University • Jr. NBA • Kay Park Recreation • Kompan • Mirimichi Green • Most Dependable Fountains, Inc.
• MUSCO Lighting • NC University College of Natural Resources • NORD Commission • PARC Physical Activity • Pilot Rock • PlayCore • Playground Grass • PlayWorld Systems • Poligon/Porter Corp. • Public Restroom Company • Robertson Recreational Surfacing • Scoremaster • Shade ‘n Net • Shade Systems • Southwest Airlines • Sport Court • Sports Play • Surface America • SynLawn • Target Corporation • Ultrasite • USA Shade • Vortex • Whitewater West
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About the National Recreation and Park Association Founded in 1965, NRPA is a national not-for-profit dedicated to building strong, vibrant, and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. Our vision is a future where everyone has ready access to the health, social and environmental benefits of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances our mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals. Through our network of more than 450,000 park and recreation professionals, 10,000 municipal park and recreation agencies and 105,000 local, public parks, we can elevate and build the capacity of parks and recreation to play an essential role in building strong, healthy and resilient communities. The Social Vulnerability Index describes how resilient a community is when confronted by external stresses on human health. These stresses can range from natural or human-caused disasters to disease outbreaks. By reducing social vulnerability, we can decrease both human suffering and economic losses.