Press Releases

ASHBURN, Va., Nov. 2, 2009 – The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009-2010 Take Me Fishing grant initiative. 

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. This year, 53 organizations were awarded up to $5,000 for programs that will each serve a minimum of 2,000 youth by April 30, 2010, with emphasis placed on the ability to provide opportunities for underserved populations and minorities.

“Recreational and outdoor opportunities play an important role in healthy lifestyles,” said NRPA CEO Barbara Tulipane. “The NRPA Take Me Fishing program makes it possible for thousands of young people to experience enjoyable, educational boating and fishing opportunities, and ultimately, increased psychological and physical development.”

More than 106,000 youth will be connected to boating and fishing opportunities as a result of the 2009-2010 initiative. To date, more than 200,000 kids in the United States have already participated in more than 100 recreational boating and fishing programs made possible by grants from NRPA’s Take Me Fishing initiative, which is made possible by a grant from RBFF.

“We believe that the best way to get kids and their families hooked on boating and fishing is to get them out on the water doing just that,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “NRPA’s Take Me Fishing initiative plays an important role in reconnecting kids with nature, protecting the environment and creating future lifetime boaters and anglers.”

In addition to the financial award, grant winners also receive: an Operation TLC2 Making Communities Safe volunteer management and national background screening tool kit, NRPA’s Step Up to Health Management resource, a Take Me Fishing event planning tool kit, and a scholarship for online training and access to fishing experts.

The 2009-2010 grantees are as follows:

Austin Parks and Recreation Department – Austin, Texas
Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks – Baltimore, Md.
Cincinnati Recreation Commission/Westwood Town Hall – Cincinnati, Ohio
Boiling Spring Lakes Parks and Recreation Department – Boiling Spring Lakes, N.C.
Commerce City Parks and Recreation Department – Commerce City, Colo.
East Point Parks and Recreation Department – East Point, Ga.
City of Fullerton Parks & Recreation Department – Fullerton, Calif.
Vegas Department of Leisure Services/Doolittle Community Center – Las Vegas, Nev.
City of North Miami Parks and Recreation Department – North Miami, Fla.
Ocala Recreation and Parks Department – Ocala, Fla.
City of Paramount Parks & Recreation Department – Paramount, Calif.
Pearland Parks and Recreation Department – Pearland, Texas
Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation – Philadelphia, Pa.
Portage Parks and Recreation Department – Portage, Mich.
Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department – Raleigh, N.C.
Williamsburg/Waller Mill Park – Williamsburg, Va.
Clayton County Department of Parks and Recreation – Morrow, Ga.
Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks/Brentnell Recreation Center – Columbus, Ohio
Dekalb County Parks and Recreation Department – Decatur, Ga.
Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation – Christiansted, Virgin Islands
Division of Urban Forestry/Honolulu Botanical Gardens – Honolulu, Hawaii
Elba Parks and Recreation Department – Elba, Ala.
Evanston Ecology Center – Evanston, Ill.
Fishing For Life – Saint Louis Park, Minn.
Forest Preserve District of Will County – Monee, Ill.
Fort Worth Parks and Community Services/Greenbriar Community Center – Fort Worth, Texas
Franklin County Parks & Recreation Department – Rocky Mount, Va.
Fremont Parks and Recreation Department – Fremont, Ohio
Gary Indiana Police Athletic League – Gary, Ind.
Hermiston Parks and Recreation Department – Hermiston, Ore.
Houston Parks and Recreation Department – Houston, Texas
Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority – Brighton, Mich.
Independence Parks & Recreation Department – Independence, Mo.
Iowa City Parks & Recreation Department – Iowa City, Iowa
Johnson County Park & Recreation District – Lenexa, Kan.
Joliet Park District/Pilcher Park Nature Center – Joliet, Ill.
La Crosse Parks & Recreation Department – La Crosse, Wis.
Larry's Casting Kids – Green Valley, Ill.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools – Miami, Fla.
Michigan 4-H Foundation – Tustin, Mich.
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks: Bureau of Fisheries – Jackson, Miss.
Mitchell State Park – Cadillac, Mich.
New Lenox Community Park District – New Lenox, Ill.
New Smyrna Beach Parks & Recreation Department/Marine Discovery Center – New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Oak Island Parks & Recreation – Oak Island, N.C.
Reunion Recreation Center – Commerce City, Colo.
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department – Saint Paul, Minn.
Scott County Conservation Board – Dixon, Iowa
St. Cloud Recreation Department – St. Cloud, Minn.
Sterling Park District – Sterling, Ill.
Town of Marana Parks and Recreation Department – Marana, Ariz.
Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
York Center Park District – Lombard, Ill.

For more information on NRPA’s Take Me Fishing initiative, contact Resa Kierstein at (703) 858-2199 or rkierstein@nrpa.org.  

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The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation is a nonprofit 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™.

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 some 21,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.
 
Headquartered in Ashburn, Va., NRPA works closely with local, state, and national recreation and park agencies, citizen groups and corporations to carry out its objectives. Priorities include advocating favorable legislation and public policy; continuing education for park and recreation professionals and citizens; providing professional certification, university accreditation, research and technical assistance; and, increasing public awareness of the importance of parks and recreation. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org.

Media Contact:
Amy Kapp
National Recreation and Park Association
703-858-2151
akapp@nrpa.org