|
|
Families, Parks and Recreation
Press
Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Heather Allebaugh
407.246.3423
Victoria Shade 407.246.4318
City of Orlando’s Parramore Kidz Zone Named Finalist for
NLC’s 2009 Awards for Municipal Excellence
|
WHAT: |
The City of Orlando’s Parramore Kidz Zone (PKZ)
initiative has been chosen as a finalist for the
2009 Awards for Municipal Excellence by selected
the National League of Cities (NLC) and CH2M
HILL. Sponsored with CH2M HILL, the Awards for
Municipal Excellence recognize cities and towns
for outstanding programs which improve the
quality of life in America’s communities.
“The City of Orlando’s Parramore Kidz Zone
project truly embodies the spirit in which
America’s cities excel and welcome the future,”
said Donald J. Borut, NLC Executive Director.
“NLC congratulates Orlando for its successful
efforts to help the community thrive.”
NLC received 192 nominations from cities and
towns in 39 states. PKZ was one of 34 programs
selected as a finalist. The finalists exhibited
exceptional public-private partnerships,
productive citizen and community collaborations,
management of municipal resources,
implementation of government policies, project
implementation with tangible results, and/or the
ability to replicate the project in other
cities.
City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
says of the project, “We are exceptionally proud
of the results we are seeing with Parramore Kidz
Zone and how well it has been received by the
residents. This past year we have been proud to
announce across-the-board reductions in juvenile
crime, teen pregnancy and school failure in the
Parramore community over the past three years
since PKZ began.”
Modeled after the
Harlem Children’s Zone, Parramore Kidz Zone
launched by Mayor Dyer in 2006, employs creative
outreach to engage a critical mass of
Parramore’s children and linking them to
positive opportunities, including
pre-kindergarten education, parenting education,
health care, mentoring, tutoring, and
constructive activities when school is out.
“We applaud the work of these municipal
leaders for exploring and implementing ways to
better their communities,” said CH2M HILL CEO
Lee McIntire. “The City of Orlando has followed
a path of innovation, focusing on a sustainable
life for all citizens.”
The winners of
the 2009 Awards for Municipal Excellence will be
announced at a luncheon during NLC’s Congress of
Cities and Exposition in San Antonio, Texas on
November 13th.
NLC partnered with CH2M
HILL in 1989 to create the James C. Howland
Awards for Urban Enrichment, named in honor of
CH2M HILL’s founding partner and first chief
executive officer. The program was renamed the
Awards for Municipal Excellence in 2005. Now in
its 20th year, the program continues the
tradition of prestigious recognition. More
information about the Awards for Municipal
Excellence can be found on the NLC website at
www.nlc.org/ame.aspx.
The National League
of Cities is the nation’s oldest and largest
organization devoted to strengthening and
promoting cities as centers of opportunity,
leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and
advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages,
representing more than 218 million Americans.
|
WHERE:
|
John H. Jackson Community Center
1002 Carter
Street
|
#######
|
