Sprite to Spruce Up Cerritos Regional Park's Basketball Courts

has been named one of 21 winners of the Sprite Spark Parks Project, and will receive a $20,000 grant that will be used to refurbish the park’s outdoor basketball courts, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced yesterday.

After being nominated for consideration in the contest, the Cerritos park grabbed one of 14 first place winner slots through an online vote and will receive a $20,000 grant that can be used to purchase of new rims, backboards, blacktop surfaces and even art installations by local artists. 

“This is an incredible opportunity for us to improve our facilities at Cerritos Park,” said Knabe in a statement. “The newly renovated basketball courts will give our residents greater access to recreational activities and inspire young kids to be more active and creative.”

Cerritos Regional Park is the largest park in Cerritos spanning 56 acres, and is regularly visited by residents from all over Los Angeles County. The park features a lake for fishing, a 50-meter outdoor swimming pool that is open during the summer, playgrounds, exercise stations and a gymnasium equipped with indoor basketball courts. The park also has a multi-purpose room, tennis courts, outdoor basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields, picnic shelters and picnic tables. The Cerritos Sports Complex and Skate Park are also located on the same grounds.

La Palma's Recreations Department was also named one of the $20,000 grant winners. Additionally, the online contest declared seven other parks throughout the nation as Grand Prize winners that will receive other bonus upgrades.

The Sprite Spark Parks Project is a multi-year commitment to build and restore play environments where teens, families and neighbors can gather outside to be active. The Coca-Cola Company is investing $2 million into building or revamping more than 150 basketball courts, community spaces, playgrounds, and athletic fields in at least 40 American cities throughout 2011.