“Meet Me At The Park” Earth Month 2018 Campaign

Vote Daily, from April 1-30, 2018, for Your Favorite Durham Park Project!

For the fourth year in a row, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is collaborating with The Walt Disney Company — including Disney | ABC Television Group, ABC 11 Eyewitness News, and ESPN — to help fund local park improvement projects in 16 U.S. cities through the national “Meet Me at the Park” Earth Month campaign, including a park right here in Durham. Through the “Meet Me at the Park” Earth Month campaign, an initiative that gives back to places that shape so much of our lives, one of three local parks will receive a $20,000 grant and from April 1 to April 30, Durham residents get to choose which one. Read more about the projects at the three parks that Durham residents can vote for this month.

Long Meadow Park

First constructed in the early 1940s, this urban park contains two little league fields, an outdoor pool, basketball courts, a playground and picnic shelter. The Goose Creek divides the athletic fields from a future, federally funded trail that will travel through the park.

With Meet Me at the Park Funding, interpretive signage explaining the water cycle and the importance of natural habitat in cleaning the water that eventually becomes drinking water for neighbors downstream. Native plants will be reintroduced in the signage areas.  Adult fitness equipment and a Healthy Mile Trail walking circuit will be installed. This will connect to the R. Kelly Bryant Bridge Trail being developed in next two years.

Rock Quarry Park

Developed in the 1970’s, this park features athletic fields, a tennis center, connects the North South Greenway with the Stadium Drive Trail.  In the past five years Rock Quarry Park has also served as the site for DPR’s city-wide cultural festivals and hosts a Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  The park is connected by trail to the Edison Johnson Recreation and Aquatic Centers.

Meet me at the Park” funding DPR will install adult exercise stations along the trail and create “plants for play” nature playground. These will be installed to connect different amenities within the parks (i.e. athletic fields to playgrounds).

East Durham Park

First opened in the 1940s, this park is situated just outside of downtown in a residential neighborhood and serves many residents (approx. 2000). In addition, the park is also the location of the East Durham Recreation Center, which serves as a preschool and summer day camp site.  The park includes an athletic field, a playground, and a picnic shelter.

With Meet Me in the Park funding, the existing paved walkway will be transformed to an interpretive nature path and Healthy Mile Trail. Signage and native grasses will be added along Goose Creek as well as adult fitness equipment will be installed.

For more information and to vote, visit NRPA.org/DisneyMeetMeAtThePark

Text PARKS to 31279 and receive a link to vote online!

*Standard message and data rates may apply. The promotions begin at 12 a.m. ET on April 1, 2018, and conclude at 11:59 p.m. ET on April 30, 2018. No purchase necessary to participate. The NRPA Meet Me at the Park Promotion and Voter’s Sweepstakes (collectively, “promotions”) are open to legal residents of the 50 US & DC, who are 18 years of age or older. For complete details and Official Rules for both promotions, visit www.meetmeatthepark.org.