Officials with the Pine Bluff Parks and Recreation Department have announced that they expect to receive grant money to help improve facilities throughout the city.
April Layher, director of the department, shared the news Monday at a meeting.
Layher has applied for a Blue and You Foundation grant of $150,000, which would be used to build an inclusive playground at the Lake Saracen Splash Park.
“We call it inclusive play because we want children with and without disabilities to use the playground and play together,” Layher said. “We have not had any official announcement yet.”
The Blue and You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas is a charitable organization established and funded by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield to promote better health in the state, according to its web site. The foundation anticipates awarding approximately $2 million in grants annually to nonprofit or governmental organizations and programs that improve the health of Arkansans, according to its web site.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Layher said she has also applied for an Outdoor Recreation grant of $393,000. This money would pay for building the inclusive playground; resurfacing the tennis courts at the Bloom Center; and upgrading playground access and equipment at the Dr. Martin Luther King Park, Central Park, and at the Irene Holcomb Bark Park.
Layher expects to hear from the Blue and You Foundation soon and the Outdoor Recreation by Jan. 1, 2017.
“We try to remain optimistic,” Layher said.
In other news, Layher said former parks and recreation commissioner Chris Rittenhouse has formed a nonprofit 501 (c)3 as a friend of the park. It will be dedicated to raising money to help pay for park projects.
“A lot of grants are available only to nonprofit organizations,” Layher said. “We feel it is important to have a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving Pine Bluff’s Parks and Recreation facilities.”
The 501 (c)3 has a board of directors.
In personnel news, Layher introduced Tamieka Mays as the department’s office manager, who was hired on Nov. 7. Mays said she was happy to work in this capacity and was previously employed by the Pine Bluff School District for eight years as an office manager.
The next meeting of the Pine Bluff Parks and Recreation Department is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 19, at 5 p.m.