Parks Build Community

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 1: Key Facts: Selena S. Butler Park Rebuild – Atlanta, Ga.

Page 2: Pre-Build Photos

Page 3: Construction Photos

Page 4: Conceptual Design Plan

Page 5: Namesake Bio: Selena Sloan Butler

Page 6: Key Player Bios

Page 7: Key Facts: National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)

Page 8: NRPA National Public Policy Principles

Page 9: Key Facts: Parks Build Community

Page 10: Key Facts: America’s Backyard

Page 11 – 18: Key Facts: Sponsor Organizations (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 & Tier 4)

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Site amenities will include:

→ Active Use Plaza – Includes picnic tables, park benches, alternative outdoor games, game tables (provided by Bravado Outdoor Products) and waste receptacles

→ Picnic/Grill Area, provided by Playworld Systems, Inc. and Kay Park Recreation

→ Upgraded Playground Equipment

→ Corner Plaza

→ Multi-Purpose Field

→ Refurbished Tennis Courts (made possible by a cash donation from the United States Tennis Association

→ Community Garden Area

Key Facts: Selena S. Butler Park Rebuild – Atlanta, Ga.

Selena S. Butler Park – known to locals as Butler Park – is named for Selena Sloan Butler (1872-

1964), a community activist, educator and a key founding member of the National Parent-Teacher Association.

Butler Park has been undergoing reconstruction and renovations since it was damaged in the 2008 tornado.

The 3.5 acre Butler Park is located in Atlanta’s Auburn Avenue District and is bordered by Williams Holmes Borders Sr. Drive, Hilliard and Tanner Streets.

Butler Park is in close proximity to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, and its revitalization will provide even more amenities to the community that was the heart and soul of the Civil Rights Movement.

Butler Park’s Community Center was recently renovated and is open as an extension of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center and Natatorium.

Washington D.C.-based National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), America’s Backyard – a new program – the City of Atlanta, and with contributions from several key sponsors, will reconstruct and renovate the space through its Parks Build Community project.

NRPA is working with several local partner organizations to make the rebuild as successful as possible for area locals. Partner groups include Park Pride, Friends of Butler Park, Fourth Ward Neighbors and the Atlanta Neighborhood Planning Unit.

The City of Atlanta first announced plans to revive Butler Park in June 2010. Construction on the park is set to begin in summer 2011 with completion scheduled for

November 2011.

A revitalized Butler Park will provide advantages of green space and quality of life for children, adults and senior citizens within the surrounding community.

To demonstrate how the revitalization of Butler Park will connect the surrounding community and positively contribute to the health and vitality of the community at large, NRPA has commissioned Appalachian State and East Carolina University to conduct a long-term research project.

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*All photos are property of the National Recreation and Park Association

Pre-Build Photos – March 10, 2011 **All photos are property of the National

Recreation and Park Association

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Construction Photos

*All photos are property of the National Recreation and Park Association

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Conceptual Design Plan

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Namesake Bio: Selena Sloan Butler

Native Georgian Selena Sloan Butler (1872-1964) organized the first National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers (NCCPT) and cofounded the National Congress of Parents and Teachers, now known as the National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).

Before reaching these milestones, Butler attended a missionary-operated elementary school in Thomas County, Ga., which led her to Spelman Seminary – now known as Spelman College. Upon graduating from college, Butler went on to teach English at African American schools in Atlanta. Additionally, she organized the Phyllis Wheatley Branch of the Atlanta YWCA; served on the Committee of Education and Training of the Infant and Preschool Child; and later, became the first president of the Georgia Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.

Perhaps Butler’s most recognized accomplishment, however, is her creation of the first chapter of the NCCPT at Yonge Street Elementary School in Atlanta in 1911, banding chapters across the state until they became the Georgia Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers. The chapter merged with the white Parent-Teacher Association in 1970 to form the current National PTA.***

Butler believed all children should have the opportunity to succeed and learn, regardless of their race or background. For her contributions, Selena S. Butler Park was named in her honor on Feb. 13, 1966, and was rededicated on June 25, 2009 during the annual convention of the National PTA. In addition, she was officially inducted into the Georgia Women of Achievement in 1995. She is buried next to her husband, Henry Rutherford Butler, in Atlanta’s Historic Oakland Cemetery.

***As a testament to her role in forming the National PTA, current PTA

leaders worked to raise money for a mosaic tile installation in the

revitalized Butler Park. Forty tiles representing parks, green spaces and

Mrs. Butler herself were made by Hope Hill and Cook Elementary School

students and placed into a permanent wall area for visitors to enjoy.

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Key Player Bios

Barbara Tulipane, Chief Executive Officer, NRPA Certified Association Executive (CAE)

As CEO, Barbara Tulipane is responsible for developing strategic partnerships, building organizational capacity and overseeing national policy and advocacy efforts related to parks, recreation and conservation. She devotes her time to understanding the many needs and challenges within the field, and getting to know NRPA’s diverse constituencies.

The Honorable Kasim Reed Mayor, City of Atlanta

Mayor Kasim Reed has been – and continues to be – integral in the Selena S. Butler Park revitalization process. In 2008, facing severe budget cuts and revenue shortfalls, the city closed 22 of Atlanta’s 33 recreation centers. During his campaign, Reed vowed to re-open them. Coined “Centers of Hope,” his initiative led to the initial announcement of Butler Park’s revitalization in 2010.

Commissioner George Dusenbury City of Atlanta Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs

Prior to his recent appointment to City of Atlanta Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs by Mayor Kasim Reed, George Dusenbury served as Executive Director of Park Pride, Atlanta’s leading parks-focused nonprofit. He and his colleagues work to enhance the lives of Atlanta residents and visitors by offering programs, services and activities that encourage participation in safe, affordable and enriching recreational activities, leisure services and cultural experiences.

Trish O’Connell

Vice President, Real Estate Development, Atlanta Housing Authority

Trish O’Connell has worked in the public housing industry for over 40 years. As Vice President of Real Estate Development for the Atlanta Housing Authority, O’Connell works with her team to develop mixed-income, mixed-finance housing and to promote neighborhood revitalization throughout the city.

Margaret Gray Connelly Executive Director, Park Pride

As Executive Director of Park Pride – a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to building civic and corporate support for City of Atlanta parks – Margaret Gray Connelly works closely with communities across the city to improve their parks and green spaces.

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Key Facts: National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)

Who is NRPA?

NRPA – headquartered in Ashburn, Va. – is a non-profit organization organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Founded in 1965 through the merger of five national organizations dedicated to the same cause,

NRPA is the leading advocacy organization dedicated to the advancement of public parks and recreation opportunities.

The Vision –

NRPA’s vision is to advance parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people.

Through its network of 20,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages

the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreational activities and conservation of natural and cultural resources.

The organization works closely with local, state and national recreation and park agencies,

citizen groups and corporations to carry out its objectives.

Membership, Funding, Education –

NRPA is funded through membership dues, conference registration fees, event sales and charitable contributions. These funds are used to conduct research, support education and drive policy initiatives on behalf of the movement.

The organization is governed by a board of directors, which is responsible for the formulation of policies that control and direct the affairs of the association.

NRPA is dedicated to educating professionals and the public on the essential nature of parks and

recreation. It advocates for increased national funding for parks and recreation through federal grants and initiatives that support healthy lifestyles, economic vitality and environmental stewardship.

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NRPA Public Policy Principles

Parks provide recreational opportunities for every American community. NRPA advocates for federal investments that provide funding for the acquisition, development and rehabilitation of parks and public lands, as well as recreational infrastructure and resources. NRPA also recognizes the unique challenges faced by urban areas and the value these parks and recreation facilities provide to our nation’s cities and urban communities.

Health and Wellness for ALL People of ALL Abilities –

NRPA believes that opportunities for active recreation are critical to the health and wellness of individuals and communities. They advocate for legislation that supports the growing role of public parks and recreation in improving individual and community health through increased physical activity, the prevention of chronic disease, the rehabilitation of wounded service members and the opportunities for the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in all activities.

Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability –

Parks and outdoor recreation lands are the essential green infrastructure of our communities and nation. Parks and public recreation lands are carbon-reducing landscapes that help clean our air and water, recharge aquifers and reduce storm water runoff. Through energy, climate change and other legislative measures, NRPA advocates for dedicated resources that will sustain, protect, restore and expand these environmental assets.

Children and Nature –

NRPA regards improving children’s access to nature as a national policy priority. NRPA believes that public parks and recreation are vital to the national effort to provide safe, healthy ways to explore nature and enhance environmental education.

Transportation and Livable Communities –

As the nation’s Surface Transportation Program approaches possible reauthorization, NRPA places a high priority on national policies that encourage walking, biking and the development of alternative transportation networks to create healthier, more livable communities.

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Parks Build Community first selected Washington, D.C.’s Marvin Gaye Park for revitalization. Phase one was completed in 2009, and improvements are ongoing.

After Butler Park, Parks Build

Community plans to develop a competitive grant process to select its next project location.

Key Facts: Parks Build Community

The Project: Park Revitalization –

A project of NRPA, Parks Build Community’s goal is to develop a

replicable and sustainable model of park revitalization in the U.S.,

which local communities can follow to bring the benefits of parks

to their own areas.

Parks Build Community is an ongoing national initiative demonstrating the transformative value of parks and recreation on the health and vitality of communities across America.

Finding Parks Build Community Projects –

The program identifies parks in underserved communities in need of revitalization and works with

partner and sponsor organizations, as well as public officials, to bring these areas back to life by

enhancing green space, promoting health and physical activity, and supporting social interaction.

Why Community Parks?

Parks provide opportunities for individuals to engage in physical fitness activities, which are

important as our nation continues to experience a health crisis in terms of obesity and related

diseases, such as diabetes, heart and kidney disease.

Past, Present, Future –

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“Parks are more than a

green space.

They’re America’s backyard.”

Key Facts: America’s Backyard

Who is America’s Backyard?

America’s Backyard is an essential charity that

supports the preservation of open space, saving parks,

through advocacy, research and public awareness.

Our Legacy: Our Parks –

Founded by Laurance Rockefeller almost 50 years ago, NRPA has been the voice for parks and

recreation, touching the lives of more than 300 million people in virtually every community –

whether rural communities, suburban neighborhoods or urban centers. What began as a simple

premise – that parks belong to the people and that access to them and their protection are basic

American values – has now become a grassroots initiative of NRPA: America’s Backyard.

America’s Backyard addresses the need to gain visibility on the national stage for public efforts

on behalf of all parks. And now with America’s Backyard, this voice will echo throughout our

country – for families, community groups and the private sector – to save parks and leave a

vibrant outdoor legacy for future generations.

A Shared Mission –

There is a powerful consensus across America that outdoor spaces—large and small, urban and

rural—remain central to our quality of life, our economy and our national identity.

The vision of America’s Backyard is that all children and children at heart, regardless of where

they live, should have access to clean air and water, safe and restorative outdoor places—where

they can play, dream and discover.

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Key Facts: Sponsor Organizations

($100,000 + of in-kind contribution) Tier 1 Contributors

PlayCore

Playcore provided the state-of-the-art playground equipment for the revitalized Butler Park.

Headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn., PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, education and partnerships.

PlayCore partners with a number of community and national organizations that are instrumental in promoting the importance of recreation and play for children and adults, to research and advocate best practices in play and education. NRPA is a national partner of the Partners in Play program.

Their mission is to profitably grow their business by passionately providing dynamic play and recreation opportunities through innovative designs, empowered employees and dedicated customer support.

PlayCore provides comprehensive solutions to meet the unique needs of every community by infusing learning into a complete family of brands:

→ Commercial play through GameTime, Ultra Play, Play and Park Structures, and Big Toys; → Site amenities through GT Grandstands, Ultra Site and Ultra Shelter; → The award-winning consumer brand of Swing-N-Slide; → The innovative loose parts play brand Snug Play; → The surfacing brand of TotTurf; → The youth fitness brand of Everlast Climbing Industries; and → Innovative pool deck and ADA pool lifts through Spectrum Products.

More information can be found at www.playcore.com.

Tom Norquist, senior vice

president of GameTime

Marketing & Corporate

Innovation, and Barbara

Tulipane review new park

plans at Butler Park in

Atlanta, Ga.

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Key Facts: Sponsor Organizations

Converse – Converse Inc. provided basketball court refurbishing for the Butler Park project.

The company– established in 1908 by Marquis Mills Converse and based in North Andover,

Massachusetts – is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nike, Inc. The Converse brand has built a reputation as “America’s Original Sports Company”™ and has

been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor All Star® shoe, the Jack Purcell® shoe and the One Star shoe.

The company boasts a diverse portfolio, including premium lifestyle men’s and women’s

footwear and apparel. Its products are sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries and through 43 company-owned retail locations in the United States.

The Health Education and Community Center of Atlanta (HECCA) –

The Health Education and Communication Center of Atlanta (HECCA) provided the basketball

court refurbishing for the Butler Park project.

HECCA is a 501(c)(3) organization working to improve health literacy and positively impact health outcomes throughout the state of Georgia. Its primary focus is to inform, educate and empower the general and medical communities.

HECCA workers live and labor to improve the health of all Georgians through organizational programming, which leads to healthier, more informed communities.

HECCA provides health education and awareness to the community through media, educational seminars, events and endeavors of every kind and description. Their mission is to improve the overall health of communities through initiatives that provide Georgians with the information and resources needed to manage health more effectively.

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Key Facts: Sponsor Organizations

($50,000 - $99,000 of in-kind contribution)

Tier 2 Contributors

Superior International Industries

Superior International Industries, Inc. (SII) provided the picnic shelter and park

equipment amenities for Butler Park.

SII was founded in 1992 and is based in Carrollton, Ga. It is a total solutions manufacturer and supplier to many sectors, mainly park and playground markets such as churches, schools and daycare centers. Over the years, the company has expanded to new markets including resorts, hotels, airports and restaurants.

There are 13 companies under the SII umbrella, directly offering customers the ability to purchase outdoor playgrounds, shelters, shade, indoor playgrounds, water slides and site amenities from a single vendor.

More information can be found at www.buysii.com.

Randy Beckum, vice president of

sales and marketing for Superior

International Industries, and Eric

Warren, president of Playland

International, Inc., visit Butler

Park in Atlanta, Ga.

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Key Facts: Sponsor Organizations

Musco Lighting LLC–

Musco Lighting provided the lighting updates for both the tennis and basketball courts in Butler Park.

Since 1976, Musco has focused on the design and manufacture of sports-lighting systems, from hometown Little League® fields to professional sports stadiums around the globe.

Offering solutions for both permanent and temporary lighting needs, Musco has attained first-hand knowledge of lighting issues that affect participants, spectators, and television. Thousands of schools, cities, and facility owners have counted on Musco as part of their team, while providing the most value for their sports-lighting budget.

Musco’s system approach makes sports lighting practical, affordable and trouble-free; simple to purchase, install and operate; and good for the budget and the environment.

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Key Facts: Sponsor Organizations

($15,000 - $49,000 of in-kind contribution) Tier 3 Contributor

The Integral Group, LLC–

A real estate services and development company since 1993, Integral was borne out of a

simple idea: a for-profit, yet socially responsible real estate company, playing an

instrumental role in creating healthy and sustainable urban communities that offer high

quality lifestyle opportunities for individuals and families of all incomes – all while

stimulating much needed economic development in urban centers.

Integral's associates are at the forefront of new urbanism, the re-purposing of in-town

neighborhoods and the creation of innovative live-work-play communities.

Integral's five operating divisions – Investment Management, Real Estate Development,

Construction Management, Property and Asset Management and Human Development

– create a full-service approach to real estate development.

Integral understands that successful communities are measured in how they enrich

lives, and it is this core value that continues to drive its success.

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Key Facts: Sponsor Organizations

(Under $15,000 of in-kind contribution)

Tier 4 Contributors

Ed Castro Landscape Bravado Outdoor Products (Provided Stone Tennis Table) United States Tennis Association (Cash Donation to Refurbish Tennis Courts)

Playworld Systems, Inc. Kay Park Recreation, Corp. (Supplied Grills for Butler Park) (Supplied Grills for Butler Park)

Pro-Change Behavior Systems Romans 15 Life Coaching (Cash Donation to Butler Park) (Cash Donation to Butler Park)

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Key Facts: Sponsor Organizations

National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Urban Collage, Inc. IBG Construction Services, LLC Rubber Trails & Surfaces, Inc.