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Assist from LeBron James Drives Participation for Sprite Spark Park Project
Voting on Sprite.com and Facebook.com/Sprite Determined Grant Recipients
ATLANTA, July 11, 2011 - Thanks to an enthusiastic "sixth man" nationwide effort from residents who voted online, neighborhood basketball courts soon will be rejuvenated and transformed into sparkling places to play. Today, 21 courts were named winners in the first phase of the Sprite Spark Parks Project, earning refurbishment grants of $35,000 and $20,000.
"I know first-hand just how important it is for youth to have a neighborhood basketball park where they can play ball early in life," said LeBron James. "The Sprite Spark Parks Project is a great way to give young athletes the chance to be active and make their basketball dreams a reality by providing them with a fresh place to play the game."
Renovation of the winning courts may begin as soon as this summer*. Funding from the Sprite Spark Parks Project will provide items such as new rims, backboards, court resurfacing, lights, benches and art installations as determined by the park manager. The top vote recipient in each of the program's seven regions will receive a $35,000 refurbishment grant, while the other 14 winning courts will receive $20,000 each.
2011 Sprite Spark Parks Project $35,000 Grant Winners:
|
Park Name |
City |
State |
1 |
Studebaker Park |
Kokomo |
IN |
2 |
Lions Park |
Pontiac |
IL |
3 |
Cheney Parks & Recreation |
Cheney |
WA |
4 |
Walnut Hill Park |
Dallas |
TX |
5 |
Litchfield Park Recreation |
Litchfield Park |
AZ |
6 |
Herman C Michael Park |
Bishop |
GA |
7 |
Brandon Park |
Lancaster |
PA |
2011 Sprite Spark Parks Project $20,000 Grant Winners:
|
Park Name |
City |
State |
1 |
Rough River Dam State Resort Park |
Falls of Rough |
KY |
2 |
Shiras Hill Park |
Marquette |
MI |
3 |
Brighton Playfield |
Seattle |
WA |
4 |
Jordan Ridge Park |
South Jordan |
UT |
5 |
Holliday Park |
Cheyenne |
WY |
6 |
Rancho Tapo Community Park |
Simi Valley |
CA |
7 |
Rusch Park |
Citrus Heights |
CA |
8 |
La Palma Recreation Department |
La Palma |
CA |
9 |
Cerritos Regional County Park |
Cerritos |
CA |
10 |
Town of Collierville: Community Center |
Collierville |
TN |
11 |
N H Scott Recreation Center |
Decatur |
GA |
12 |
Water Tower Recreation Center |
Philadelphia |
PA |
13 |
Babylon Parks & Recreation |
North Babylon |
NY |
14 |
Wells Recreation Department |
Wells |
ME |
"Our goal with the Sprite Spark Parks Project is to ensure that communities all over the country have safe and fun places where people can get active and play," said Augusto Elias, Sprite Brand Director,
The Sprite Spark Parks Project is a multi-phase program to build and restore recreation environments where community members can get outside and enjoy fitness activities. In February, Sprite partnered with LeBron James to kick off the first phase of the program, which focuses on improving basketball courts.
People nationwide logged on to Sprite.com and Facebook.com/Sprite to nominate local courts they wished to receive refurbishment grants, and the top nominees were selected as finalists. Then supporters logged on to Sprite.com or Facebook.com/Sprite to vote for the final courts to win one of the 21 grants available through the program.
In the program's second phase, the Sprite helped restore outdoor parks and community spaces across America by collaborating with Habitat for Humanity International®. Families participated by collecting and mailing in the green tabs found on specially marked Sprite and Sprite Zero ™ 12-oz cans. For every green Sprite tab redeemed, the brand donated 10 cents to Habitat for Humanity with a guaranteed donation of $250,000 and a maximum of $500,000. More information about this initiative can be found at
The third and final phase of the 2011 Sprite Spark Parks Project will launch in mid-July, when Sprite gives schools a chance to win a playground or athletic field renovation. People can submit My Coke Rewards codes found on Sprite and Sprite Zero Fridge Packs™ and 2-liter products to redeem points for the school they designate. More information is available on
Through the Sprite Spark Parks Project, Sprite will invest approximately $2 million into building or revamping basketball courts, community spaces, playgrounds and athletic fields across America throughout 2011. As a result, an estimated one million young people will have greater access to recreational spaces where they can be inspired to be active and creative.
* Construction on each basketball renovation project will commence pending court operators' agreement to the program's terms and conditions and based on court operators' timeline.
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