Get Active Orlando (GAO), the active-living advisory board to the City of Orlando, was one of 12 organizations and businesses to win a coveted Golden Brick Award given annually by the Downtown Orlando Partnership (DOP).

 

GAO was recognized for its Parramore Community Gardens project, which has been attending to neighborhood gardens in the Parramore area with residents for more than two years. Accepting the Golden Brick Award at the DOP luncheon April 7 on behalf of GAO was Bridget Monroe, President of the Parramore Community Garden. Monroe, who is also a project manager for the Center for Change, says the garden was designed to preserve open space, encourage revitalization, and promote physical activity on a once vacant lot. The project has raised the profile of community gardening and is fostering the development of other gardens throughout the city.

 

The Parramore Community Garden was recognized by the DOP for bringing beauty and functionality to one of Orlando’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods.  And it’s good exercise, as well. According to Health magazine, gardening burns approximately 340 calories per hour for a 150-pound woman, and strengthens muscles throughout the body. With 19 garden beds at the Parramore project to take care of, it’s no wonder it falls under the physical fitness umbrella. 

 

“The gardens bring fresh food to neighborhood residents and positively impacts the environmental, economic and social landscape of the neighborhood,” says Monroe.  “They reap the rewards of the healthy vegetables that end up on their dinner tables.”

 

The Golden Brick Awards is an annual celebration of the DOP recognizing development projects that affect the Downtown Development District and contribute to making downtown Orlando a more exciting, diverse and appealing place to live and work