NRPA Awards $175,000 to 20 Grantees for 2011 - 2012 Take Me Fishing™ Initiative

ASHBURN, Va., Aug. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2011-2012 Take Me Fishing™ Initiative in partnership with Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF).  This year, NRPA awarded 20 agencies and organizations $175,000.  

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Take Me Fishing™ supports local park and recreation agencies and youth service organizations that work to connect young people ages 6 to 15 with nature and engage them in recreational boating and fishing.  The goal of the initiative is to provide children and families with opportunities to participate in boating and fishing programs that will lead to continued participation in healthy outdoor activities, a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship, and an understanding of water and boat safety behaviors.  

"Since 2006, this grant program has reached more than 640,000 children and families," said NRPA Chief Executive Officer Barbara Tulipane.  "NRPA is proud to serve as a catalyst in keeping kids active and engaged in nature and parkland across the U.S."

"We are pleased to continue working with NRPA and its vast network of parks and recreation facilities across the country to introduce kids and families to boating and fishing," said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. "The program plays an important role in connecting kids with nature, teaching them to protect the environment and creating future lifetime boaters and anglers."

This year's grant program was awarded in three categories:

New Programs – Five parks and recreation agencies with little or no previous fishing and boating programs were awarded $15,000 in grant funds to start new fishing and boating programs in their community. Grantees include:

• Lopez Lake Recreation Area - San Luis Obispo County Parks- Arroyo Grande, Calif.
• Deerfield Beach Parks and Recreation - Deerfield Beach, Fla.
• Lee's Summit Parks & Recreation - Lee' Summit, Mo.
• Erie MetroParks - Huron, Ohio
• Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services - Kent, Wash.

Program Sustainability – Five parks and recreation agencies received $10,000 grants to enhance and develop existing fishing and boating programs. Grantees include:

• Davenport Parks and Recreation - Davenport, La.
• New Lenox Community Park District - New Lenox, Ill.
• Saint Paul Parks and Recreation - Saint Paul, Minn.
• Englewood Recreation Department - Englewood, N.J.
• City of White Settlement - White Settlement, Texas

Audience Development – Ten grants of $5,000 were awarded to communities where established fishing and boating programs existed. These grantees are to develop and implement initiatives specifically to reach underserved audiences. Grantees include:

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools - Miami, Fla.
• Honolulu Botanical Gardens - Honolulu, Hawaii
• Johnson County Park and Recreation District - Lenexa, Kan.
• Baltimore City Recreation and Parks - Baltimore, Md.
• Fishing for Life - Minneapolis, Minn.
• St Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation - St Louis, Mo.
• Mid-Atlantic Youth Anglers & Outdoors Program - Philadelphia, Pa.
• Houston Parks and Recreation Department - Houston, Texas
• City of Fort Worth PACS-Greenbriar - Fort Worth, Texas
• City of La Crosse Parks, Recreation, and Forestry - La Crosse, Wis.

When choosing the grant recipients, NRPA ensured a wide distribution between urban, rural and suburban areas, and placed emphasis on projects with the ability to provide opportunities for underserved populations and minorities.

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 20,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.

For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA's flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrec-magazine.org.

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation's aquatic natural resources. RBFF helps people discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through national outreach programs including the Take Me Fishing™ campaign and Anglers' Legacy™.

SOURCE National Recreation and Park Association