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Wick Park is part of contest
YOUNGSTOWN
With a little more than two weeks to go until the end of a nationwide contest for “America’s Favorite Park,” Youngstown’s Wick Park has a lot of ground to cover.
State Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, Robert Burke, the city’s park and recreation director, and Jimmy Myers, distribution center manager for Coca-Cola, the company sponsoring the contest, urged people Wednesday to vote often for the North Side park.
“It’s the largest and busiest city park,” Burke said. “We want to get the vote out. There is so much we can do to improve the park.”
The contest started May 23 and ends July 15.
The three parks that receive the most votes by July 15 will be awarded grants: $100,000 for first place, $50,000 for second place, and $25,000 for third place. Also, a $15,000 grant will be awarded randomly to another park that finishes in one of the remaining top 25 spots.
For a while, Wick was in the top 25. As of Wednesday afternoon, it was in 42nd place with about 39,000 votes. There are about 2,000 parks in the contest.
Pratt Park in Prattville, Ala., currently is the leader with about 382,000 votes. That means there’s little chance that Wick will win, and a challenge to get into the top 25 as the No. 25 park has about 100,000 votes.
To vote, go online to livepositively.com/parks. There is no limit on the number of votes a person can cast. Also, if you “check in” from the park through Four Square, a cellphone app that lets people know where you are, the park gets 100 votes.
“The parks are important in our community,” said Myers, who’s voted numerous times for Wick Park.
If Wick receives money, the city would use it toward playground equipment and a system that surveys and monitors the park’s trees, Burke said.
The contest is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Co. and was developed with the National Park Foundation, America’s State Parks and the National Recreation and Park Association.