Goulds Park wins "Parks Build Community" grant award of $20,000 from the Walt Disney Company and NRPA

(MIAMI, May 21, 2015) — Plans to develop a new community garden in Goulds Park in south Miami-Dade County received a boost in the form of a $20,000 “Parks Build Community” grant award from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and The Walt Disney Company, including Disney Citizenship, Disney|ABC Television Group and ESPN. The award is the result of public voting which directed grant funding to the winning Miami-Dade park improvement project, as part of the “Parks Build Community” national campaign.

The $20,000 grant will support  the implementation of a community garden for the park, inclusive of an irrigation system, planter beds for growing fruits and vegetables and fencing.

Parks Build Community helps to revitalize and restore local parks and park programs across the country. The Goulds Park Community Garden project was one of 15 projects selected to receive grant funding. For more information about the winning Parks Build Community projects visit NRPA.org/BeInspired.

“We are thankful to the NRPA and The Walt Disney Company for their generous support for the improvement project for Goulds Park,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “The development of new park amenities, like a community garden, is a great example of how our Parks Department is working to improve the lives of the people in Miami-Dade County.”  

“We are honored to receive grant funding to develop a community garden at Goulds Park.  Thanks to the generosity of the NRPA and The Walt Disney Company and the community members who voted for it, we can begin working on the project,” said Miami-Dade Parks Director Jack Kardys. “The garden will serve as a teaching tool to encourage children attending the park's after-school program to improve and expand their heathy eating choices by eating more fruits and vegetables.”

“The tremendous support shown by the public through their daily votes during Earth Month confirms what we truly believe: that parks have immense power to make our lives and the places we live better,” said Barbara Tulipane, president and CEO of NRPA. “This grant will give Goulds Park the funds it needs to create a thriving gathering place where youth, families and adults can connect with nature and get active. This wouldn’t be possible without the support of The Walt Disney Company.”

About The National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 50,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit NRPA.org. For digital access to NRPA's flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit ParksAndRecreation.org. 

Miami-Dade Parks is a world-class parks system supported by the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade and focused on placemaking, health and fitness, and conservation and stewardship.
For more information visit us online.
About Miami-Dade Parks: http://www.miami-dade.gov/parks/about-parks.asp.
About the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade: http://www.miamidade.gov/parks_foundation/about-us.asp.