La Verne, Calif. (July 18, 2024) - Today, Niagara Cares, the philanthropy of Niagara Bottling, LLC, the family-owned beverage company that has been hydrating America since 1963, joined La Verne city officials to celebrate the groundbreaking of upgrades to Las Flores Park, located at 3175 Bolling Avenue. The park received a $75,000 grant through the 2023 Perk Your Park Project, a partnership between Niagara Cares and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to create more vibrant and accessible public spaces.
Through this grant, the city will create a space for children with special needs by making the park wheelchair accessible and adding sensory elements and playground equipment. The project is expected to be completed in Fall 2024.
Representatives from nearby Niagara Bottling facilities in Diamond Bar, Ontario and Rialto, city officials, community members, and La Verne Mayor, Tim Hepburn, gathered to mark the start of the project, which will also be supported by Niagara Cares volunteers.
“We are firm believers in supporting the communities where we operate,” said Ann Canela, director of corporate giving for Niagara Bottling. “Increasing accessible public space and outdoor greenery creates opportunities for the community to get outside and enjoy an educational and fun environment. We’re grateful for our Team Members who came out today to uplift the La Verne community, and we can’t wait to see the improvements to come.”
“The groundbreaking of our beloved Las Flores Park playground would not have been possible without the incredible support from the La Verne community,” said Mayor Tim Hepburn. “Each vote of confidence provided during the Perk Your Park project played a crucial role in securing the necessary grant funding. Together, we have demonstrated that when our community rallies together, we can achieve remarkable things for the benefit of all.”
Since 2015, NRPA and Niagara Bottling have perked 17 parks across the United States. Through the Perk Your Park Project, they have made park dreams come true for thousands of local residents by supporting improved access to community spaces, nature and healthy living in under-resourced communities.
“We are thrilled to see the playground enhancements being made by the City of La Verne at Las Flores Park,” said Ayanna Williams, NRPA’s director of community of environmental resilience. “Local Park and Recreation agencies are vital for activating spaces that are accessible and transformative on the community level. The improvements at Las Flores Park will help connect the local community to their parks, and invite everyone to enjoy the outdoors.”
Niagara Cares is the heart of what we do and who we are at Niagara Bottling. For more than 60 years, we have been making a difference for our Team Members, consumers and communities through philanthropic giving, volunteering, water donations and disaster relief. As a family-owned business, we are committed to creating meaningful change for our communities through a spirit of giving back both big and small. For more information, visit niagarawater.com/niagara-cares.
Niagara Bottling, LLC has been family owned and operated since 1963. Headquartered in Diamond Bar, Calif., Niagara operates bottling facilities throughout the U.S. and Mexico. As a leading U.S. beverage manufacturer, Niagara Bottling works closely with some of the largest retailers, grocers, club and convenience stores throughout the country. Niagara produces a variety of beverages including bottled water, sparkling, vitamin and flavored water, teas, sports drinks, ready-to-drink coffee, protein drinks and non-dairy milk products. For more information, visit www.niagarawater.com.
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this vision by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates — the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. For more information, visit nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.
Media Contact:
Marvin Roca
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