City of Decatur Wins Second Place in Marathon Cheering Challenge

The city of Decatur got some good news on Friday, when the Publix Georgia Marathon/Half Marathon announced the winners of its 2011 Neighborhood Challenge, a contest in which several metro communities set up cheering zones along race routes this past Sunday.

The winners were chosen by race participants as their favorite cheering section, and the winners are being awarded grants for neighborhood fitness initiatives. 

The 2011 winners are:

Division 1 - Marathon/Half Marathon Course
1st Place - $1,500.00 - Fourth Ward Neighbors/4th & SAND
2nd Place - $1,000.00 - Poncey-Highland Neighborhood Association
 
Division 2 - Marathon Course
1st Place - $1,500.00 - Candler Park Neighborhood Organization
2nd Place - $1,000.00 - City of Decatur

Race participants were limited to one vote each. The survey asked whether the participant ran the Marathon or Half Marathon, then listed the cheering zones for the applicable division. The voting continued until Friday morning, and the winners were announced later in the day.

Each winning neighborhood will determine how it wants to use the funds for their community. According to the Publix Georgia Marathon/Half Marathon, past winners have used the money for garden and landscaping initiatives; playground equipment improvements; development of walking trails and parks; youth fitness programs; and pedestrian sidewalks.