$10,000 REI Grant To Fund Outdoor Classroom and Landscape Improvements

Lawrenceville, Ga. - A new "Park'nership" between a renowned business leader and community steward and one of the best park systems in Georgia is blooming and the fruits will be enjoyed by thousands of visitors to Bogan Park now and for future generations.

The Gwinnett Parks Foundation will be awarded a $10,000 park improvement grant check on Friday, April 14 from Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI). The parks foundation will use the funds to extend its Park'nership park enhancement volunteer program to Buford's Bogan Park and build a new outdoor classroom and improve the natural habitat around the pond at Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation's popular northeastern Gwinnett park. The ceremonial passing of a $10,000 giant check from REI officials to Gwinnett Parks Foundation board members will take place prior to the Gwinnett Parks Foundation's monthly meeting at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 14 at the Bogan Park pavilion near the future outdoor classroom site.

On the heels of its most successful year ever, REI is sharing its success with communities nationwide by dedicating $1 million to 100 community parks across the country, above and beyond the $3 million the company previously earmarked this year for outdoor recreation and conservation causes.

Bogan Park in Buford, Piedmont Park in Atlanta and Big Trees Forest Preserve, in Sandy Springs, are the three Georgia park honorees, of the 100 community parks that will benefit from a $10,000 REI grant.

Bogan Park has experienced tremendous usage and popularity for its state-of-the-art aquatic center and well-designed ball fields, double gymnasium and community center and plentiful miles of walking trails. Through the REI grant, Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation will create a stone outdoor classroom area adjacent to the existing pond at Bogan. The classroom will include educational signage to educate all ages of the natural habitat around the pond and native horticultural plantings. A draft project plan proposes a stone and concrete classroom area, which will be located at a part of the pond that has the sounds of softly running water to enhance the natural learning experience. The pavilion and pond area at Bogan Park sit beside heavily utilized portions of the trail system at the park.

The Gwinnett Parks Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, established in 2001 by a former member of the Recreation Authority with a renowned love and support for quality parks in Gwinnett, created the Park'nership Program. The foundation is always looking for volunteers to join in beautifying Gwinnett's park system. Twice annually, Park'nership offers opportunities to the public and community organizations to come together to enhance Gwinnett's parks through scheduled volunteer workdays at various sites throughout the county. "From planting trees and shrubs to pressure-washing pavilions and building blue-bird houses, volunteer hands make a difference at Gwinnett Parks," said Tammie Zeigler, president of the Gwinnett Parks Foundation.

This fall, the Bogan Park Park'nership Day will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, October 21. The beautification project will be completed by volunteers from the three Atlanta-area REI stores who will plant numerous native landscaping materials around the existing pond at Bogan and the new stone outdoor classroom. "The REI grant is a perfect opportunity to create a new Park'nership program at Bogan Park. Bogan currently hosts additional active volunteer groups from the Mill Creek school cluster and various local organizations, such as the Gwinnett Rose Society, which can join REI volunteers on October 21. The public is invited and it will be a great community event where everyone can get involved and help with this project," Zeigler added.

About REI
REI, (Recreational Equipment, Inc.), in business since 1938, is a renowned supplier of specialty outdoor gear and clothing. REI serves the needs of outdoor recreation through 82 retail stores in the United States, including three in the metro Atlanta area, in Buford at 1600 Mall of Georgia Blvd, Perimeter Mall at 1165 Perimeter Center West, and Atlanta, at 1800 Northeast Expressway NE. REI is the nation's largest consumer cooperative with more than 2.8 million members. While non-members are welcome to shop at REI, only members enjoy special benefits, including an annual member refund on eligible purchases. REI's business success allowed the co-op to return member refunds to its active members in 2005 totalling more than $50 million, and provided $2.5 million in donations in support of outdoors and outdoor recreation. Sally Jewell, REI's president and CEO stated, "REI recognizes that today's youth will be tomorrow's stewards of the environment. REI is committed to providing opportunities for young people to experience the joys of outdoor recreation and learn how to care for open spaces and our shared public lands." More information about the company's community involvement and offerings can be found on its website at www.rei.com.

About Bogan Park
Often called the most popular park in northern Gwinnett, Bogan Park, located at 2723 North Bogan Road in Buford, encompasses 83 acres. Amenities include seven baseball/softball fields, a football field overlay, sand volleyball courts, outdoor basketball courts, two pavilions, three playgrounds and two miles of paved, multi-purpose trails. The Community Center is a home-away-from-home to many residents as it houses hundreds of recreation classes year-round, summer camps and the double gymnasium and aquatic center with an indoor competition pool and a leisure pool with a large slide and aquatic playground and splash features.

About Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation
In recent years, right now and for some time to come, U.S. communities are faced with creating their own unique approach to acquire that undeveloped land and to designing their community's space to preserve future generations quality of life. GCPR's ongoing program that permanently preserves greenspace and focuses on natural resources and open-space parks, has gained national recognition. Over the past five years, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners has approved the purchase of more than 4,650 acres of passive parkland at a cost of $87 million, and increased park acreage from 5,225 in 2001 to 8,352 in 2005. To date, GCPR manages 29 open park sites, with 18 more scheduled for future development.

The citizens of the county have found that local SPLOST sales tax referenda have proven to be excellent tools in the county's effort to continue acquire park acreage and develop new facilities. For every dollar that anyone spends in Gwinnett County, a penny goes into a special fund for specific capital improvements. Community support via three consecutive successful sales tax referenda in 1997 ($60 million for land acquisition and park project development), 2001 ($192 million for parks) and 2004 (a projected $162 million for through 2008), has allowed the expansion of Gwinnett's parkland to help keep up with its population growth. Gwinnett County remains one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. Population growth in Gwinnett County is expected to continue to rise from more than 700,000 people in 2005 to 1 million by the year 2024.

The mission of Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation is to provide quality parks and leisure activities to the citizens of Gwinnett County.