City Parks Department Receives Grants, Awards to Enhance Summer Programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2011

Bloomington, IN - The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department is the recipient of several different grants and awards for a variety of its ongoing and present programs.

Discover You Can

For more information contact
Robin Hobson, Farmers' Market Master, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, 349-3704 or [hobsonr@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:hobsonr@bloomington.in.gov]

The Bloomington Community Farmers' Market has partnered with Mother Hubbard's Cupboard for the Discover You Can Summer Canning Education Program sponsored by Jarden Home Brands (makers of Ball® Brand products).

The $1,200 "Discover You Can" grant provides supplies to conduct food canning demonstrations at the Bloomington Community Farmers' Market in June, July and August. The June demonstration featured how to make and preserve strawberry jam. Upcoming demonstrations include salsa making and canning on July 16, peach chutney on July 26 (at the [Tuesday Market|5853]), and dilly beans on August 20. Canning demonstrations are conducted by Kayte Young, assistant nutrition education coordinator for Mother Hubbard's Cupboard.

Each Saturday canning demonstration is conducted twice on its scheduled day, at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The Tuesday Market canning demonstration on July 26 takes place at 5 p.m.

"It's exciting to see the City Parks and Recreation Department continue to provide insightful, fun and valuable services to the community," said Mayor Mark Kruzan. "This program will be a great way for the community to learn to inexpensively preserve healthy foods for year-round consumption."

For more information about the "Discover You Can" demonstrations or other events at the Bloomington Communtiy Farmers' Market, call 349-3700 or [visit the Farmers' Market Web site|http://bloomington.in.gov/sections/viewSection.php?section_id=53].

Serving Communities-Healthy Meals for Children

For more information contact
Leslie Brinson, Program/Facility Coordinator, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, 349-3734 or [brinsonl@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:brinsonl@bloomington.in.gov]

Bloomington Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), was selected to benefit from a $2.1 million grant received by NRPA from the Walmart Foundation to support summer food programs in 30 park and recreation agencies across the U.S. This $36,000 award is funding the Winslow Woods Summer Food and Fun program, which provides free, nutritious meals and healthy, engaging activities to children.

Bloomington Parks and Recreation staff serve free lunches daily at noon at [Winslow Woods Park|297] and offer free dinner from 5-6 p.m. at the Monroe County YMCA. Staff conducts free games and activities for children during the afternoon at Winslow Woods Park, and at the Monroe County YMCA after dinner. Free transportation between Winslow Woods Park and area neighborhoods is provided.

For more information about the Summer Food and Fun nutrition programs offered by Bloomington Parks and Recreation at Winslow Woods Park or at the [Banneker Community Center,|banneker] call 349-3700.

Stormwater Mural at Banneker Community Center Recognized

For more information contact
Kriste Lindber, Education Specialist, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, 327-1642 or [lindberk@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:lindberk@bloomington.in.gov]

[Project WET (Water Education for Teachers),|http://projectwet.org/] an international organization that provides water-related resources for educators, highlighted in their new curriculum and activity guide the stormwater mural at the [Banneker Community Center.|banneker]

The mural was created by local [National Speleological Society|http://caves.org/] members Kriste Lindberg and Bob Vandeventer, along with Aurora Alternative High School teacher and student Barbara Curry and Lindsay Smith, with support from the Bloomington Environmental Commission during the Martin Luther King. Jr. Day of Service in 2010.

The mural transformed a little-used 11' x 4' blackboard into a painting of a cross-section of an interconnected pathway through a cave, storm sewer, and stream. The "Make a Mural" project that features the stormwater mural is also included in the Project WET "sampler," a precursor to the new activity guide that includes seven select Project WET activities.

[Stormwater mural at the Banneker Community Center|image:9564,left]

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