Asheville's Carrier Park potential Coca-Cola Grant recipient

Through its Live Positively initiative, Coca-Cola will award grants totaling $175,000 to the three U.S. parks. The public can vote for their favorite park at www.livepositively.com/#/americasparks/vote, and while only one park will receive the title of "America's Favorite Park," grants will be given to the three parks that receive the most votes by September 6, 2011. These grants of $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000 can be used to restore, rebuild or enhance places within the park to play or be active.

RiverLink, the local non-profit working to revitalize the French Broad River and environs as a place for everyone to live, work and play, has nominated Asheville's Carrier Park.   "Just think of the amenities that could be added to Carrier with $100,000 or even $25,000," said RiverLink's Dave Russell. "We could build more trails, another fishing platform, a canoe launch ... we'd let the public weigh in on how to spend the grant and follow their lead. So please vote often, as you can vote as many time as you like."

According to Karen Cragnolin, executive director of RiverLink, "We are so proud of Carrier Park,. In 1999 when RiverLink bought the old speedway and eventually turned it into carrier park we had no idea, although we were very hopeful, that it would become the number one park destination in the city wide system. Carrier Park really does offer something for everyone - so we hope that everyone will vote often!."

To vote, visit www.livepositively.com/#/americasparks/vote, and put the word "Carrier" in the window beside the words "Search for a park." When the little orange balloon comes up, click on it and vote.