Grant funding provided by the National Recreation and Park Association and Southwest Airlines
Ashburn, Va. (May 31, 2017) — The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and Southwest Airlines® are proud to partner on a new Community Engagement Grant program to help fund green stormwater infrastructure projects in underserved, low-income communities across the United States. As part of the program, grants totaling $30,000 were recently awarded to three communities to help engage residents in the planning, implementation and ongoing maintenance of local green stormwater infrastructure projects.
The three projects that received grants are:
- GreenRoots; Chelsea, Massachusetts
- The City of Covington; Covington, Kentucky
- Alliance for the Great Lakes; Gary, Indiana
NRPA will work in partnership with these communities to identify best practices and innovative strategies that effectively empower the community to influence the design of a green stormwater infrastructure project that best suits their needs, while also benefitting the local environment.
“Many communities across the country are investing in green stormwater infrastructure because of its benefits. In addition to addressing environmental challenges, these projects can increase access to nature, create job and educational opportunities for surrounding residents, and provide space for recreation and physical activity. However, for these projects to be successful, local residents must be part of the design and planning process. This funding will help communities build that much-needed support,” said Lori Robertson, NRPA director of conservation.
“Southwest Airlines is passionate about living responsibly and giving back to the communities we serve,” said Linda Rutherford, vice president and chief communications officer. “We are excited that through our work with the National Recreation and Park Association, we are empowering communities to develop green stormwater infrastructure projects, making a positive impact on the environment.”
Unlike traditional gray stormwater management, green stormwater infrastructure uses natural processes to filter and slow the flow of water to protect and restore clean and healthy waterways. Examples of green infrastructure include rain gardens, bioswales, constructed wetlands, daylighted streams and permeable pavement. Publicly owned parks are ideal venues for the installation of these solutions, as they offer a variety of benefits beyond stormwater mitigation, especially in underserved communities where flooding and water quality are a concern. To learn more about the benefits of green stormwater infrastructure, watch this video.
The Community Engagement Grant program is part of NRPA’s Great Urban Parks Campaign, which aims to improve environmental and social outcomes in underserved communities through green stormwater infrastructure projects in local parks. To learn more about the campaign, visit www.nrpa.org/greeninfrastructure.
To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.
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About The National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of nearly 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.
About Southwest Airlines Co.
In its 46th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 54,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest proudly operates a network of 101 destinations in the United States and eight additional countries with more than 3,900 departures a day during peak travel season. Service to both Grand Cayman and Cincinnati begins June 4, 2017; and service to Turks and Caicos is expected to begin November 5, 2017, subject to requisite government approvals.
From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new markets. With 44 consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. The 2016 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found at SouthwestOneReport.com.