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Peoria's Rio Vista Park and Recreation Center wins Nickelodeon award


September 1, 2009                                                                                                  Jeffrey Javier, The Arizona Republic

Peoria's Rio Vista Park and Recreation Center has won the Nickelodeon's Parents' Picks Award for best Phoenix-area playground or park.

Background                                                                                                                 Rio Vista was the only park in the West Valley nominated for the award, going up against five others that included Tempe Beach Park, Encanto Park and Papago Park.

What is it                                                                                                                       Rio Vista was completed in 2007, with other parts of the park already open. The facility features a climbing wall and indoor track. There are also a number of rooms for groups to have meetings.

What happened                                                                                                      Valley residents voted for the best park, and Rio Vista was chosen. Jackie Stanley, Rio Vista's manager, said she hasn't received any formal reward or notification, only finding out after checking Nickelodeon's Web site.

What was said                                                                                                            "It's gratifying to see how well thought of the park is, because it's a real special place and it's good to see the recognition that it deserves," Stanley said.