Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Mulroy Park receives $200,000 grant from NFL


In addition to many threats of bodily harm, I've received several emails regarding the future of the Nevilly Court Sports Complex. Councilmember Kearns has announced the project has been moved to Mulroy Park (behind Holy Family Church). I think this is a wise move, as Mulroy is a better location. It is already a park and no trees need to be removed to build the complex.

Today, the NFL announced Buffalo will receive funding for a turf field in the otherwise abandoned park. The last field built in our area was Riverside in 2008.This field will be a great addition to local high schools, especially when you consider the number of lacrosse, softball, etc games that had to be cancelled due to the abnormally wet weather we had this Spring. Here is the press release from the NFL regarding the new field. (I condensed it to fit, but left in all the important stuff)...


NFL/LISC GRASSROOTS PROGRAM AND BUFFALO BILLS GRANT $200,000 TO HELP INSTALL SYNTHETIC TURF AT MULROY PARK

Orchard Park, NY – The Buffalo Legacy Project, which is focused on designing a modern, multi-purpose athletic field for residents in South Buffalo, will receive a $200,000 grant from the Buffalo Bills as part of the National Football League Grassroots Program, it was announced today.

The grant, awarded by the Bills, the NFL Youth Football Fund and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), is part of $2.5 million in field refurbishment awards allocated this year. It will be used to install a new synthetic turf field at Mulroy Park, which will be one element of a multipurpose recreation and community facility featuring football, health and wellness programs, and education spaces.

On behalf of the NFL Youth Football Fund and the Buffalo Bills, over one million dollars in grants have been awarded to community facilities since 1998. A full list of the grants awarded since 1998 is attached.

The NFL Grassroots Program, a partnership between the NFL Youth Football Fund and LISC, the nation’s leading community development support corporation, has resulted in the construction or renovation of 243 football fields nationwide in the past 13 years. During that time, the NFL Youth Football Fund has granted more
than $30 million to revitalize playing fields in underserved neighborhoods. Fields are newly built or significantly renovated, with improvements such as irrigation systems, lights, bleachers, scoreboards, goal posts and turf. Grassroots grants are issued once established funding thresholds are reached for each project.

“The Buffalo Bills are proud to support the construction of athletic fields in the Western New York community and assist in providing our youth with safe and accessible places to play,” said Ralph Wilson, Jr., Bills chairman and president, “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the NFL Youth Football Fund and LISC to help develop recreational areas in our community.”


June 28, 2011 – Mulroy Park to receive $200,000 grant from Bills and NFL Youth Football Fund

"We at LISC are very happy to have worked with the Buffalo Bills, the NFL Youth Football Fund and the City of Buffalo to provide this important grant for playing field improvements at Mulroy Park,” said Michael Clarke, LISC Buffalo executive director. “This field will be the seventh permanent playing surface that our partnership
with the Bills and the NFL are making possible in Buffalo, and it will serve children of all ages, providing organized recreational opportunities for a long time to come."

Buffalo Bills - NFL Youth Football Fund Grant Recipient History:
Year Program Location Grant Amount

2010 Buffalo Legacy Project - Mulroy Park Buffalo, NY $200,000

2008 Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy
(Riverside Youth Football Field) Buffalo, NY $50,000

2007 Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Athletic Sports Pavilion Buffalo, NY $200,000

2006 Detroit NFL Youth Education Town/
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Athletic Field Detroit, MI $100,000

2005 Robert E. Rich Sr. All High Stadium Buffalo, NY $200,000

2005 Buffalo Bills Youth Football Stadium Orchard Park, NY $100,000

2003 Veterans Stadium Restoration Project Lackawanna, NY $50,000

2000 Broadway Fillmore Neighborhood Housing
Services - Emerson Park Football Field Buffalo, NY $100,000

1998
Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy
(Riverside Youth Football Field) Buffalo, NY $80,000

TOTAL $1,080,000

For more information on the NFL grants, please check out http://www.nflyff.org/.




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