The "second annual America Is Your Park campaign" is underway, and three winning parks—decided by the number of on-line votes—will win cash awards. The first-place winner nets $100,000 and sponsors say this is one election where it's okay to stuff the ballot box with multiple votes.

The campaign is sponsored by The National Park Foundation and Coca-Cola, and the three parks that receive the most votes by September 6, 2011, will be awarded grants in the following amounts: First Place - $100,000; Second Place - $50,000; and, Third Place - $25,000. According to event organizers, "These grants will help restore, rebuild or enhance recreation areas in parks where people can play and be active."

National, state or local parks are all eligible for the grants. The winner of last year's campaign was Bear Head Lake State Park in Ely, Minnesota. The park received more than 1.6 million votes, and is using the grant to build a new warming hut to ensure safety and comfort for winter sports enthusiasts.

Sponsors say there's no limit to the number of times you can vote during the contest, which ends on September 6, 2011. You can cast your votes on the campaign's website by finding your park on the map on the site. Each click results on one vote for the selected park; you don't have to register or provide any personal information to participate.

Participants can also cast multiple votes by uploading photos of themselves or family members in their favorite park; beginning on August 10, videos of "voters" and family members in their favorite park can be also uploaded on the same site. Each photo or video uploaded counts as five votes. There is a limit on the number of photos or videos submitted each day, and photo and video uploads do require registration on the website, so you can make your own decision about any privacy concerns.

Facebook fans can also participate beginning on July 11 by checking into a park using Facebook Places. Each "checkin," up to 20 per day, counts as five votes.

You'll find complete details about the contest including ways to vote at this link.  A "Top 10 Parks" tab on that website provides a list of the current leaders in the voting.

“Our national parks are home to our country’s treasures—from our iconic landscapes to the hallowed places where history happened,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO, National Park Foundation.  “Thanks to dedicated partners like Coca-Cola and the America Is Your Park campaign, our nation’s parks can continue to receive the vital support they need.”

“Last year, millions of Americans showed their passion for their favorite parks by voting, so this year we’ve raised the stakes – more parks can win and there are more ways to vote,” said L. Celeste Bottorff, Vice President, Living Well, Coca-Cola North America.  “We’re asking people to be ‘digital’ by voting online for their favorite park and then get ‘physical’ by getting out and having fun with us this summer.”

There's been plenty of discussion in recent years about how parks are stretched for funds. Perhaps this is a small way you'd like to help.