April 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 20

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and implement 12-month conservation projects in their communities; up
to 40 grants ranging from $5,000 to
$80,000 will be given to support cutting-edge conservation projects that
address habitat, wildlife, water, or
energy issues in local communities.
A summertime digital campaign also
will encourage people to get outdoors
and spend more time in nature. By
submitting scenic photos of nature,
participants can enter to win a Toyota Prius v. To learn more, visit www.
exitthehighway.com. The deadline to
apply for a Toyota TogetherGreen Fellowship or Innovation Grant is June 7,
2013. Visit www.togethergreen.org/
fellows and www.togethergreen.org/
grants for application guidelines, selection criteria, eligibility, benefits, and
online applications for both programs.

Q The Arlington, Texas, Parks and
Recreation Department has recently
developed a new avenue for showcasing the talent and dedication
of some of its extraordinary staff
members, volunteers, and coaches.
The YouTube series " Stars of the
Parks " will introduce the public to
individuals who are making a difference every day in this community.
The first " Stars of the Parks " video, featuring youth baseball umpire
Danyale Webb, was created after the
department received several emails
from parents about how much their
children enjoyed her as an umpire
(www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjes
Ju91ux0). The Arlington Parks and
Recreation Department has requested that the community become involved in highlighting staff members

who are making a difference. Nominations should be sent to parksde
partment@arlingtontx.gov.
Q In Chicago, mother Mistie Lucht
has been on a crusade to visit local
parks in order to gather research for
a popular smartphone app. Called
Playground Pointers, the app is
aimed at parents and caregivers
whose kids might have grown sick
of their neighborhood swings. It currently features a database of reviews
covering more than 700 parks in
and around Chicago, but the app's
developer says it could eventually
spread nationwide with the help of
user-generated reviews. Each listing
contains photos; a cleanliness rating;
information about parking, picnic
areas, surfacing, sport courts, etc.;
the number of swings, tire swings,
and slides available; and a small description. The app is available in the
App Store for $1.99.
Q The Synthetic Turf Council
(STC) is now accepting entries for
its fifth-annual Search for the Real
Field of Dreams, which recognizes
the power that synthetic turf has to
transform communities and schools
and keep youth active, healthy, and
fit. Interested students, coaches,
athletic directors, faculty, parks and
recreation managers, and business
owners can easily nominate an installation. Submissions are due by
September 1, 2013, and there is a
grand prize of $1,000. Questions
can be directed to Terrie Ward,
STC's marketing and education director, at 678.385.6720 or terrie@
syntheticturfcouncil.org.
For more news from around the industry, visit www.parksandrecreation.
org/2013/April/Briefly-Noted.

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April 2013 - Parks & Recreation

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