Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 63 There are several reasons that park dedications are popular and valuable culminations of park projects Dedication ceremonies: 1 For the many individuals and stakeholders who worked to make the park project a reality, allow an opportunity to celebrate and be recognized for their efforts 2 Provide local officials with an opportunity to be associated with a positive aspect of community life while being reminded of the impact of public parks 3 Serve as an opportunity for additional public visibility and media coverage 4 Mark the beginning of a new phase in the life cycle of the project The pictures accompanying this section illustrate the success of the rededication of Marvin Gaye Park, whose key partners were the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and Washington Parks & People The two keynote speakers were Dr Howard K Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, and U S Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D C Citizens who provided input and sought resources for Marvin Gaye Park were also on site, and several of them approached the podium to speak Also participating in the rededication were the Washington National Dream Foundation, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and student volunteers from American University The contributions of Playworld Systems, PlayCore, Landscape Structures, and Kompan to the park rejuvenation project were recognized as well The Marvin Gaye Park Dedication Ceremony The Marvin Gaye Park dedication ceremony included the presence and recognition of a variety of individuals and groups, including: • The local community activist Rebecca Stamps, a key player in bringing this project to fruition • CEOs and executive directors of the two major partners • Local council members • National officials • Numerous partners in the project • Neighborhood residents • Volunteers • Park and playground users Critical Action for Long-Term Success To ensure the long-term success and ongoing life cycle of a park and neighborhood revitalization project, planning is essential This planning to create a cycle of success should include the following elements • Continued involvement and support of the community. In the neighborhood, there must be a leader or citizen advocate to serve as a catalyst, both for generating community involvement and support and for promoting ongoing viability • Ongoing resource support Support for maintenance and improvements for existing parks is often difficult to obtain However, the development of a master plan with strategic initiatives can garner the ongoing interest of citizen advocates, resource partners, and donors
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