Congratulations to the City of Mesa Parks and Recreation!

Mesa received a $20,000 grant through the Let’s Play, City Construction sponsored by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) and KaBOOM!  The grant money will go towards improvements for a new playground at Porter Park, 420 E. 8th St. between Mesa Dr. and Brown Road.
Mesa applied for 2013 Playful City USA recognition and also submitted a Let’s Play grant application to the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and KaBOOM!. Mesa was selected to receive a Let’s Play City Construction Grant among the 217 communities that earned Playful City USA status in 2013.

“We are delighted to have been chosen as one of the 217 cities in the nation to receive this grant,” Mesa Parks, Recreation and Commercial Facilities Director, Marc Heirshberg said.  “As our parks age, there is a need to improve the amenities and update the existing play structures.  Through this grant we’re able to speed up this process and take care of the parks that are more mature.”

This will be the third park build for Mesa with KaBOOM!  In 2009, Mesa was awarded $230,680 to build two playgrounds, one at Park of the Canals and one at Beverly Park.

“KaBOOM! and Mesa have an important partnership to improve parks with generous grants and motivated volunteers,” District 1 Councilmember David Richins said.  “I am excited to see improvements at Porter Park to serve another of Mesa’s great neighborhoods. I know neighbors and local businesses will roll up their sleeves and work side by side, like we did on build day for the Park of the Canals, to remake Porter Park as a great place to play! Thank you KaBOOM!”

Playful City USA is a national program advocating for local policies that increase play opportunities for children. KaBOOM! created Playful City USA in 2007 to help local governments address the play deficit among children and it is through mayors, city council members, parks and recreation departments, school districts and community leaders that the program succeeds in benefiting children.

For more information about the public meeting, dates and times, visit: http://www.mesaaz.gov/roads/PublicMeetings.aspx or to learn more about Mesa’s parks visit: www.mesaaz.gov/parksrec.