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The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and National Recreation and Park Association Launch ‘Parks for Pollinators’

New national  campaign highlights the role of public parks and pollinator gardens in  addressing pollinator health

Marysville, OH. (May 31, 2018) — To address the critical need to  increase pollinator habitat for beneficial insects, such as honey bees, monarch  butterflies and others, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and the National  Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) have teamed up on a new “Parks for Pollinators” campaign  aimed at raising public awareness of pollinator health and encouraging local  action through public parks and pollinator gardens.

“NRPA is  proud to partner with The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation on this important  initiative,” said Lori Robertson, NRPA director of conservation. “Public parks  play an increasing role in addressing pollinator decline, and this initiative will  help strengthen the work our agencies do to educate the public about the important  role pollinators play in our daily lives and inspire individuals to take action.” 

Through  Parks for Pollinators, agencies will engage members of the public in a variety  of settings, including community events, public education programs, social  media and online communications. NRPA and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation will  also fund on-the-ground survey research that will aid in understanding the  public’s perception of the pollinator crisis. Five park and recreation agencies  have been selected to help conduct the research and include: 

     
  • Chicago  Park District — Chicago, Illinois
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  • Houston  Parks and Recreation Department — Houston, Texas
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  • Miami-Dade  County Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department — Miami, Florida
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  • City  of Providence, Department of Public Parks — Providence, Rhode Island
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  • Seattle  Parks and Recreation — Seattle, Washington

“Local park and recreation centers are an ideal place to engage, educate  and help more people to get involved in the creation of pollinator habitat in  their communities and in their own backyards through pollinator gardens,” said  Jim King, president of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation. “Parks can also  provide a much-needed corridor of protected land for habitat creation,  especially in urban areas.”

Since 2015,  Scotts Miracle-Gro has engaged in a multiyear Pollinator Promise effort to help home gardeners, community  gardeners and urban planners understand the critical role pollinators play in  our ecosystem and to provide them with the tools necessary to grow successful  pollinator gardens.

The Parks  for Pollinators campaign will kick off with an online photo contest that will  take place during the month of June, which is also the month of National  Pollinator Week, June 18–24. NRPA members and the public are encouraged to post  a pollinator photo on social media using the hashtag #Parks4Polllinators to have  the chance to win a pollinator garden prize pack with gardening products and  tips for taking personal, at-home actions to support pollinator health.

According to  a recent poll conducted by NRPA, nearly all  Americans agree that promoting pollinator health should be a conservation  priority across the United States. Promoting pollinator health includes protecting  against the decline and death of pollinators, such as honey bees and other  insects, and increasing their habitat.

To learn more about Parks for  Pollinators, visit www.nrpa.org/parks4pollinators

To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.   

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About the National Recreation and  Park Association
 
The National Recreation and Park Association is a  national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans  have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity.  Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates,  NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation  initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more  information, visit www.nrpa.org. For  digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

About The Scotts Miracle-Gro  Foundation
  The mission of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation is to  inspire, connect and cultivate a community of purpose. The Foundation is deeply  rooted in helping create healthier communities, empower the next generation,  and preserve our planet. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that funds  non-profit entities that support its core initiatives in the form of grants,  endowments and multi-year capital gifts. For more information, visit www.scottsmiraclegrofoundation.org.

Media Contacts:
  Molly Jennings
  [email protected] 
  561-681-7683

Heather Williams
  [email protected]
  703.858.4743
  @NRPA_news