MEDIA ADVISORY
Southside Park Accessible Playground Grand Opening

Saturday, October 1, 2005, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Southside Park, 6th and U Streets

Sacramento, California, September 7, 2005 – The City of Sacramento will soon celebrate the opening of the Accessible Playground at Southside Park, located at 6th Street and U Street. This exceptionally Accessible Playground was planned and constructed through a unique partnership between the City of Sacramento, Sutter Health and United Cerebral Palsy, and is ideally located in a public park that also features a zero-entry wading pool and accessible piers. The playground is an integrated and intergenerational-use playground that is open to everyone, including children with disabilities, able-bodied children, parents, grandparents and caregivers.

Funding for the planning and construction of this exciting new park was made possible thanks to the support of Sutter Health, United Cerebral Palsy, City of Sacramento, Sacramento Housing and Development Agency, Mayor Heather Fargo, former Councilmember Jimmie Yee, Southside Park Neighborhood Association, State of California’s Proposition 12, Shane’s Inspiration, Blue Diamond Growers, GenCorp, Active 20/30 Club #1 – Sacramento and many other generous donors.

The grand opening of the Southside Accessible Playground will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2005 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., and will include a wide range of festivities including children’s activities and a free BBQ lunch provided by the Active 20/30 Club #1 – Sacramento. The dedication ceremony is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m., and will include remarks by Mayor Heather Fargo, Councilmember Robert Fong, Robert Overstreet, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation; Patrick Fry, President and CEO of Sutter Health; Ron Brown, member of the City’s Disabilities Advisory Commission; Theresa Mandarino, Executive Director of United Cerebral Palsy; and the Laver family.

The grand opening of the Accessible Playground at Southside Park is open to the general public, free of charge. Free event parking at 6th Street and W Street will be provided, with frequent shuttles courtesy of United Cerebral Palsy and Sutter Health.

For more information on this event, contact Teresa Roche, (916) 808-3818,
email: troche@cityofsacramento.org

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