$35,000 Sprite 'Spark Parks' Grant Check Presented to Oconee Parks and Recreation Department

Coca-Cola presented Herman C. Michael Park with a $35,000 Sprite Spark Parks recreation grant on Nov. 16.

More than 140 kids from the park’s after-school program joined park employees, community leaders and parents to recognize the community’s efforts to encourage voting, according to a news release.

Sprite partnered with LeBron James in February to kick off a nationwide vote to select 21 parks and recreation centers to receive basketball court renovations. Votes were cast in an online contest and the top vote-getters won grants.

Watkinsville resident Dan Matthews had nominated the park via Sprite.com.

After learning in July the park was one of seven grand prize winners, Jared Hightower, Oconee County athletic program director, said the first project would be to resurface

Work will begin soon and will be completed before spring 2012.

Among attendees at the check presentation were Melvin Davis, Oconee County Commission chairman; John Gentry, Oconee County Parks and Recreation director; David Weeks, Oconee County Schools board chairman and volunteer coach; Carlos Strong, former UGA and NBA basketball player and volunteer coach; Joe Cunningham, manager of the Athens and Gainesville Coca-Cola Distribution Centers.

After the presentation, 20 select students participated in basketball drills with Carlos Strong to encourage healthy, active living.

Sprite Spark Parks Project is a multi-year initiative to positively impact neighborhood parks in communities across the country. By investing $2 million into building or revamping basketball courts, community spaces, playgrounds and athletic fields in 2011, an estimated one million young people will have greater access to recreational spaces where they can be active and creative.