THOMASVILLE — Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) was pleased to announce that the National Parks Service has awarded a $219,540 grant to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for improvements to Paradise Park in Thomasville, Georgia. The funds are being made available through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

“Paradise Park is a beautiful recreational area that has been a downtown Thomasville landmark since the late 1800s,” said Congressman Bishop. “These funds will help the city make improvements to park entrances, lighting and safety, parking, and recreational facilities like bandstand restoration, playground equipment, benches, and walking trails. I will continue to do my best to provide Southwest Georgia’s cities and counties with the resources they need to improve their community facilities without placing additional strain on their budgets.”

The $219,540 grant represents half of the total cost of the Paradise Park improvement project.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was established by Congress in 1964 to fulfill a bipartisan commitment to safeguard natural areas, water resources and cultural heritage, and to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans. The fund helps strengthen communities, preserve history and protect the national endowment of lands and waters. Since its inception, the LWCF has funded $4 billion worth of projects in every county in the country.

The LWCF was permanently authorized in 2019 and in 2020 Congress enacted full funding of $900 Million annually. Congress allocates this funding to the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and State and local governments.