GRAND FORKS – A grant from the AARP will soon benefit the Near North Neighborhood Association, Blue Zones Project and Smiley-Midtown Park.
The NNNA and Blue Zones were awarded $12,500 through the Community Challenge Award to support enhancements to Smiley-Midtown Park and throughout the neighborhood. The grant coincides with the 50th anniversary of the park.
To celebrate, there will be a kickoff event at the park on Saturday, June 28, with a litany of free activities.
“We are truly grateful to the AARP for helping the Near North Neighborhood by the award of this grant”, said Carol Weiler of the NNNA. “We want to express our deep appreciation to Augustana Lutheran Church for the foresight and generosity they showed to our community when they recognized the need for the park and purchased the land 50 years ago. It’s amazing to be part of the wave of positive energy flowing from this project.”
The church purchased the original lots for $45,000 in 1975 to create a park for neighborhood families. It held the land until the Grand Forks Parks District acquired it to build a neighborhood park.
Fifty years later, the aforementioned two organizations sought to host a big event to commemorate the occasion. As ideas developed, and Shilo Previti of Blue Zones was brought in, it was clear that money was needed.
Weiler and the NNNA were familiar with Previti’s work revitalizing Skidmore Park and asked them to assist in developing their event.
“I suggested to them it would be a lot easier to plan the event if we had a little bit of money. Continuously, we were coming up with great ideas, and the question would be how we would pay for this and that,” Previti said.
Previti recommended that avenue instead of a door-to-door fundraiser. They previously received an AARP grant with University Park Neighborhoods, where they are also a coordinator.
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“I know they support ADA accessibility improvements, I know they are interested in making public spaces equitable for all people and I knew those were two things we were looking at as we were trying to plan this event,” they said.
Along with the event, the funds will be used to add a bike rack to Smiley-Midtown Park, complete the sidewalk at Skidmore Park, install a small free library stand with raised garden beds throughout the neighborhood area and replace or repair the Near North Neighborhood banners along Fifth and Third streets.
As for the event, 26 organizations are scheduled to be in attendance, including Dakota Science, Arts for Vets, All Embracing Home Care, Love in Action and Safe Kids Grand Forks. Activities will include neighborhood history tours, a pop-up pickleball court, carnival games, cornhole, rock painting and others.
“It’s been great getting to know and working with our many enthusiastic partners who will join us in celebrating the park’s founding,” Weiler said. “The upgrades in the north side will enable people in the neighborhood and visitors to get outdoors and enjoy accessible recreation while interacting with each other.”