NRPA partners with CITGO, Houston Parks and Recreation and Forest Preserves of Cook County on community volunteer program
Ashburn, Va. (Nov. 4, 2019) — The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is proud to partner with CITGO Petroleum Corporation, City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the Forest Preserves of Cook County in Cook County, Illinois for the second year of its Heart Your Park Day of Service initiative.
“The NRPA looks forward to working with CITGO, the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the Forest Preserves of Cook County to offer corporate and community volunteers an opportunity to serve in local parks,” said Karl Schrass, NRPA director of conservation. “Volunteer events help improve the resiliency of our parks and contribute to conservation efforts while building the future generation of environmental stewards.”
Volunteer work can be a powerful tool that brings communities together to solve local issues. Through the initiative, the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the Forest Preserves of Cook County will each host four volunteer service events that engage CITGO employees, as well as interested community members to help improve park spaces and build resiliency.
“Safeguarding the environment for current and future generations is a key focus for CITGO,” said CITGO General Manager for Government and Public Affairs Larry Elizondo. “Through partnerships with organizations like the NRPA, CITGO can continue its commitment to environmental restoration and community service in areas we call home.”
The NRPA continues its work with the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department for the second year through this initiative. During events hosted on Texas Arbor Day, World Wetlands Day, Earth Day and National Arbor Day, volunteers will help build resiliency in the city by restoring coastal prairie habitat.
“The parks department is proud to be a part of the NRPA’s Heart Your Park Day of Service initiative,” said Steve Wright, director of Houston Parks and Recreation Department. “Volunteer planting events provide us with opportunities to engage the public in hands-on ways they can contribute to environmental stewardship and conservation in their local parks system. We appreciate their support and that of the NRPA, CITGO, and all the volunteers who make these events possible.”
This year, the NRPA is also partnering with the Forest Preserves of Cook County, the recipient of its 2018 Innovation in Conservation Award. At service events hosted on World Wetlands Day, World Soils Day, Earth Day and National Arbor Day, volunteers will help improve wildlife habitat and stream corridors by removing brush and invasive species from Black Partridge Woods and Sagawau Canyon Nature Preserve, two local preserves near Lemont, Illinois. The partnership will also advance the Forest Preserve’s long-term volunteer program by supporting online trainings that prepare volunteers to become future conservation stewardship leaders.
“Collaborations play a critical role in protecting nature. These four service days are an excellent opportunity to introduce more people to two of our premier nature preserves, including the only canyon in Cook County, and as a gateway to volunteering in the Forest Preserves,” said Arnold Randall, the general superintendent of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
Last year, the NRPA partnered with the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department to host four volunteer events in each city. These events engaged nearly 400 volunteers, impacted 44 acres, added 2,177 plants and removed 2,100 pounds of debris and invasive species. Beyond these numbers, the events created lasting benefits for communities. For example, parks in Corpus Christi have seen an increase in visitor interest, use of park space as an educational tool concerning plant adaptation, and new relationships between students and park staff.
The NRPA’s Heart Your Park Day of Service initiative offers CITGO corporate employees an opportunity to serve alongside coworkers and community members as volunteers in a local parks, while experienced park and recreation staff facilitate events identified as high priority needs. By engaging volunteers in conserving and restoring public park lands, the NRPA aims to provide an improved quality of life in local communities throughout the U.S.
For more information on Heart Your Park Day of Service, click here.
To learn more about the NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.
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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of more than 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, the NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to the NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.