Ideas We Like: Parks Build Community Campaign
Community parks in 15 U.S. cities are the beneficiaries of a partnership between the National Recreation and Park Association and the Walt Disney Company. During the month of April, the Parks Build Community Campaign is holding a contest that allows the general public to decide which of three programs in the 15 cities in nine states will receive $20,000 to “help make improvements or expand programs.” Participants can vote once each day during Earth Month on projects in the following towns:
- Austin, Texas
- Brevard County, Florida
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Chicago, Illinois
- Durham, North Carolina
- Fresno, California
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Houston, Texas
- Los Angeles, California
- Miami, Florida
- New York City, New York
- Orland, Florida
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- San Francisco, California
- Seattle, Washington
Projects include sports field repairs, community gardens, skate parks, climbing walls, outdoor fitness zones, environmental programs, and trail restoration.
In addition, the association allows local parks to use its site for crowdsourcing campaigns.
The campaign, and the crowd sourcing site, serve as a model for national organizations looking for creative ways to engage citizens and promote their mission.