December 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 48

NRPA UPDATE
Meet Me at the Park Surpasses Goal
More than 1 million children and families with increased access to play and
physical activity
By Jennifer Stromberg

n 2017, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and
The Walt Disney Company came together through the Meet Me at the
Park program to improve access to inclusive play spaces for 1 million
children and families in underserved communities. In just its third year, we
have surpassed the goal and are now celebrating the impact these projects
have made in communities across the country.
Since the inception of the Meet
Me at the Park Play Spaces campaign, $2.3 million has been invested in 75 local communities in 39
states. The emotional, cognitive and
physical benefits of play are wellknown, making the achievement of
this milestone a cause for celebration. " These play spaces haven't just
impacted the lives of those who live
in these 75 communities, they've
also provided inspiration to other
communities throughout the coun-

try, " says Kellie May, vice president
of programs at NRPA.
These new play spaces will have
improved access to play for more
than 1 million children and families. They comprise an urban and
rural mix of racially, ethnically and
socioeconomically diverse communities. The projects themselves
integrate play through mobile recreation, trails and walking paths,
sports fields and neighborhood
park spaces.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CITY OF IOWA CITY PARKS & RECREATION

Children at Iowa City,
Iowa's Riverfront Crossing
Park Nature Play Area
play on what was once
an industrial site and
floodplain.

Parks & Recreation

| D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

For a full listing of all the Meet
Me at the Park projects and locations, visit www.nrpa.org/meetme
atthepark.

Evaluation Shows Increase
in Park Use and Other
PosLtive Trends
Through Meet Me at the Park, we
have conducted formal evaluations
to assess how improved access to play
spaces in underserved communities
changes the use of and physical activity at the space, especially by youth.
These evaluations were conducted
using the systematic observations of
play and recreation in communities
(SOPARC) method and intercept surveys from park attendees.
The SOPARC evaluations found
that parks with renovated play areas
saw an increase in visitors engaging
in moderate-to-vigorous activity.
One project that exemplifies the
program is the City of Port Huron
Parks and Recreation's Tike Trak
in Michigan. The agency received
a 2017 grant to build an area to
introduce bicycle safety skills and
education to children in the local
community. The project also included a " tike town, " which features ADA-accessible raised garden beds, nature exploration sites,
art stations and sensory play.
" The hope is to get kids on their
bikes at a young age and get them
outside in a way that is stimulating
and interesting, " says Nancy Winzer,
parks and recreation director in Port
Huron, Michigan. " When we do

December 2019 - Parks & Recreation

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