Bobcat Company and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) are celebrating the culmination of their 2023 partnership grant to create vibrant and sustainable community park and recreation areas. Through this partnership, Bobcat awarded five grants, each worth $50,000, to support five park improvement projects in communities throughout the country.

“Through our partnership with NRPA, we were able to invest time and resources for the betterment of communities nationwide,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America, Inc. “The five awarded grants created opportunities for communities to improve their recreation areas, focus on sustainability and encourage residents and visitors to enjoy the great outdoors.”

The five parks that received grant dollars have completed their projects affording their communities healthier green spaces, more walkable parks and greater climate readiness.

The grant recipients and completed projects include:

• City of Stonecrest in Stonecrest, Ga.: The City of Stonecrest, located east of Atlanta, used the grant dollars to develop a walking trail at Everett Park. The new 1.5-mile trail meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and opens up the dense forest to allow park enthusiasts to access an overlook by the South River. Bobcat of Atlanta supported locally with in-kind use of Bobcat equipment and volunteer aid.
• Davidson County Parks and Recreation in Lexington, N.C.: Grant dollars supported a pollinator garden and bog garden at a newly created park called Yadkin River Park. The gardens are designed to protect the surrounding community from adverse effects like water pollution and flooding. Local Bobcat dealership R. S. Braswell Co. (which includes Bobcat of Charlotte, Bobcat of Monroe, Bobcat of Rock Hill, R.S. Braswell Co. in Kannapolis, N.C., and coming soon Bobcat of Lexington) supported the project through volunteer aid and Bobcat equipment to transfer material on the project site.
• City of Buffalo in Buffalo, N.Y.: The City of Buffalo Parks and Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust partnered on a 22-acre conservation easement known as Houghton Park. The grant dollars helped transform what was once a dumping ground of large broken concrete slabs, bricks and stones, into an open nature conservation area in a dense urban neighborhood overlooking the Buffalo River. Bobcat of Buffalo helped support the teams locally by assisting with the removal of heavy debris on site.
• San Antonio River Authority in San Antonio, Texas: The San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) developed new trails, created two bioswales and planted more than 800 native plants and grasses at its 351-acre Trueheart Ranch Park which fronts the San Antonio River. According to the Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation for the River Authority, Kristen Hansen, the native species not only contribute to the beauty of the grounds but also positively contribute to the health of the park’s ecosystem. Bobcat of San Antonio partnered with the River Authority during its planting initiatives bringing loaders, excavators, and utility vehicles to help with site work.
• City of Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation in Auburn, Wash.: Located south of Seattle, the City of Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation created a more inclusive environment for the community by creating new ADA-compliant gravel pathways at Auburndale Park. The project reinvigorated two existing pathways to remove the outdated asphalt and replace it with crushed gravel. Bobcat of Seattle provided in-kind volunteer aid and Bobcat equipment to demo the asphalt and help install the paths to proper grade.

“Parks and green spaces are vital to communities because they are places that allow you to connect with your neighbors, move outside and enjoy nature,” said Ayanna Williams, NRPA director of community and environmental resilience. “Everyone deserves a healthy, more resilient community, and we are thankful for Bobcat’s support to help build more equitable futures for generations to
come.”

Bobcat Company is committed to building strong relationships, engaging volunteers and providing financial and in-kind support to organizations and programs to make a positive impact. Bobcat and NRPA will continue to partner in 2024, creating new opportunities to positively impact individuals and communities around the nation.