GRPA Promotes Play & Recreation

GameTime Provides Up to $1.5 Million in Matching Funds for Georgia Parks

Funding program developed in partnership with Georgia Recreation and Park Association will assist with the development of 23 new playgrounds throughout the state.

June 18, 2018 (Fort Payne, AL) - GameTime is pleased to announce the funding recipients of the 2018 Georgia Recreation and Park Association State-Wide Play and Recreation Initiative.

In the educational component of the initiative, PlayCore provided CEU-qualified professional development sessions throughout Georgia to share research-based best practices in playground design and programming. For the funding component of the initiative, GameTime made a commitment of up to $1.5-million in matching funds for GRPA agencies who submitted applications for assistance with the development of playground spaces that encourage best practice designs for active behavior.

“This is our first educational and funding initiative throughout the state of Georgia. At the heart of the program was educational training and professional development provided by our parent company, PlayCore,” said Robert Barron, Senior Vice President at GameTime. “The training workshops provided park and recreation professionals with research and resources to create spaces that are based on best practices. With that research, GRPA agencies are better equipped to create recreation areas that maximize park usage and encourage children and families to be more active together.”

Each of the playgrounds that are funded by the initiative will be designated as National Demonstration Sites for data collection, and will contribute data toward outcomes reporting that will be shared with GRPA and their members at the 2018 GRPA Conference.

Steve Card, Executive Director of GRPA commented, “We’re thrilled to bring new play and recreation opportunities throughout the state of Georgia. Congratulations to the recipients for receiving funds for their National Demonstration Sites.” 

The funding recipients* and future National Demonstration Site designations are:

• Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency
• Cobb County Parks
• Adel-Cook Recreation Department
• Chamblee Parks and Recreation Department
• The City of Covington
• Butts County Department of Leisure Services
• Dalton Parks and Recreation Department
• City of Tucker
• City of Grovetown
• Harris County Recreation Department
• McIntosh County Department of Leisure Services
• Statesboro-Bullock County Parks and Recreation Department
• LaFayette Parks and Recreation
• Meriwether County Recreation Department

*The specific funding amounts for each of these projects will be determined once designs are completed and approved by the related agencies.