'America’s Favorite Park' campaign could net state parks $100,000 recreation grant

Hoffmaster State Park (MI)

Coca-Cola has launched its fourth annual promotion of parks nationwide through the “America’s Favorite Park” social networking contest.

Nearly all of us could be more active. Coca-Cola is helping to make this a little easier and a lot more fun, with a friendly competition amongst parks and an opportunity to earn up to a $100,000 grant for recreation improvements.

“Michigan State Parks developed the Fresh Air Fit series to get people outside and into parks for their daily workouts this summer,” said Maia Stephens, recreation programmer for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “The format of the grant competition supports that campaign by encouraging people to get outside, be active and, hopefully, to vote often for their favorite state park.”

Voting can be done in three ways:

• Vote once a day at www.coke.com/parks. 
• Check in at a park using Foursquare, a location-based social networking website for mobile devices, and get up to 5 votes every day.
  Log more than 20 minutes of physical activity through the MapMyFitness app for mobile devices, and get up to 10 votes every day. 

The park with the most votes will win a $100,000 recreation grant from Coca-Cola and the title of "America's Favorite Park." Second- and third-place parks will win $50,000 and $25,000 grants, respectively. Another $15,000 grant will be awarded at random to a lucky park that comes in 4th to 25th on the leader board.

The Department of Natural Resources will be promoting the contest on Facebook and encourages fans to be active, vote often, and share with friends and family. Learn more about this campaign and the Fresh Air Fit program at www.michigan.gov/stateparks.