This offers a new twist on fundraising and publicity. I like how people can vote on which park gets the playground, and the "power cards" concept.
Dream Park Challenge gives parks the chance to get a makeover South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale)
Mar. 9--Before every home game, Heat guard Dwyane Wade works on his jump shot on the glossy hardwood floor of the AmericanAirlines Arena. But Wade remembers the days when the gym wasn't an option. Growing up in Chicago, he didn't have water coolers and trainer's towels during his basketball games. The Staples Dream Park Challenge with D-Wade is bringing attention to parks in Broward and Miami-Dade counties in need of a makeover. "The benefit of having a community park is invaluable," Wade said in a statement. "I remember what it was like to play ball with my friends at our local park after school and on the weekends. It was essentially my second home. Through the Dream Park Challenge we hope to provide that same atmosphere for local children." It's the second year for the Dream Park Challenge program. Through April 10, residents can cast votes for their neighborhood park to win the grand prize of $25,000 toward improvements. The second-place park will get $10,000 and third place $5,000. The remaining 15 parks each will receive $1,000. And five voters will get the chance to meet Wade, while five others will receive autographed jerseys. This year, Staples has increased the number of parks eligible for those prizes from 14 to 18, with eight in Broward. Flamingo Park in Sunrise is currently in second place, trailing Cutler Bay's Cutler Ridge Park by just over 3,000 votes. ... The city's 400 park employees logged daily votes online. Youth sports participants were sent e-mail reminders to vote and residents were encouraged to visit Staples stores to pick up "power cards," containing a code that gives participants 10 additional daily votes...
Mar. 9--Before every home game, Heat guard Dwyane Wade works on his jump shot on the glossy hardwood floor of the AmericanAirlines Arena.
But Wade remembers the days when the gym wasn't an option.
Growing up in Chicago, he didn't have water coolers and trainer's towels during his basketball games.
The Staples Dream Park Challenge with D-Wade is bringing attention to parks in Broward and Miami-Dade counties in need of a makeover.
"The benefit of having a community park is invaluable," Wade said in a statement. "I remember what it was like to play ball with my friends at our local park after school and on the weekends. It was essentially my second home. Through the Dream Park Challenge we hope to provide that same atmosphere for local children."
It's the second year for the Dream Park Challenge program.
Through April 10, residents can cast votes for their neighborhood park to win the grand prize of $25,000 toward improvements. The second-place park will get $10,000 and third place $5,000.
The remaining 15 parks each will receive $1,000. And five voters will get the chance to meet Wade, while five others will receive autographed jerseys.
This year, Staples has increased the number of parks eligible for those prizes from 14 to 18, with eight in Broward. Flamingo Park in Sunrise is currently in second place, trailing Cutler Bay's Cutler Ridge Park by just over 3,000 votes.
...
The city's 400 park employees logged daily votes online. Youth sports participants were sent e-mail reminders to vote and residents were encouraged to visit Staples stores to pick up "power cards," containing a code that gives participants 10 additional daily votes...
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