ANAHEIM, CALIF – Feb. 24, 2018 – Today, more than 300 volunteers from the City of Anaheim (@City_Of_Anaheim), Anaheim Family YMCA (@anaheimymca), Disney (@CitizenDisney) and the community joined KaBOOM! (@kaboom) to build a kid-inspired, state-of-the-art playground at Pearson Park. The new playground, which is the 10th Disney-sponsored KaBOOM! playground in Anaheim, will help more than 2,500 kids get the balanced and active play they need to thrive.
Last December, neighborhood kids put crayons to paper and drew their dream playground. This playground was designed based off those drawings and the community came together to select the final design.
For the first time, Shining Stars from the 2017-2018 Disneyland Resort Dreamers & Doers Program participated in the build as “Honorary Disney VoluntEARS.” These 35 high school students represent 28 high schools from across Orange County and were selected by the Resort for their outstanding achievements in giving back to their communities and schools.
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10 Disney-sponsored playgrounds for more than 12,000 Anaheim children:
Pearson Park – February 2018 Willow Park – September 2017 Imperial Park – February 2017 Lincoln Park – May 2016 Twila Reid Park – May 2015 John Marshall Park – March 2014 Modjeska Park – October 2013 Schweitzer Park – March 2013 Stoddard Park, Anaheim – May 2012 Edison Park, Anaheim – June 2011
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“It is such a thrill to see our Dreamers and Doers working side-by-side with our team of Disney VoluntEARS for this event,” said Michael Colglazier, president of the Disneyland Resort. “These two programs bring out the best in our cast and our community, and leave a lasting impression on our neighborhoods.”
Play is the business of childhood and is essential to the physical, cognitive, creative, social and emotional development of every kid. It’s how kids build strong muscles and healthy bodies; it’s how they learn problem-solving, conflict resolution and creativity; it’s how they make friends and build strong bonds with adults. Play is critical to a kid’s ability to thrive.
“Of all the things we do as a city, parks are what truly touch the lives of people every day,” Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait said. “Parks are where families celebrate special events, kids play sports or where neighbors come to meet each other. Pearson Park has been a fixture in our community for decades and for some, generations. We thank Anaheim Family YMCA, Disney, KaBOOM! and the community for partnering with us to ensure Pearson Park remains a premier gathering place for everyone in the neighborhood.”
“This playground embodies the YMCA’s focus on bringing families together and building a better us” said Rick Martens, President and CEO of the Anaheim Family YMCA. “It is also becomes part of our history in Anaheim since the Pearson Park is named after the founder of the Anaheim Family YMCA, Charles Pearson.”
Since 1996, KaBOOM! has been dedicated to the goal that all kids get the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play. This playground is one of many made possible with support from Disney, as part of The Walt Disney Company Healthy Living Commitment, a long-standing commitment to create healthier generations by making healthy living fun and simple.
KaBOOM! works to accelerate efforts that move every kid in America to play every day. Together, Disney and KaBOOM! have built more than 80 new playspaces across America giving nearly 100,000 kids access to healthier lifestyles and safe places to play and grow.
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About the City of Anaheim
Anaheim is a full-service city supporting more than 358,000 residents, 20,000 businesses and 25 million annual visitors. The city provides public safety through the Anaheim Police Department and Anaheim Fire & Rescue, water and power service through Anaheim Public Utilities, parks, community centers, family services and libraries through Anaheim Community Services, neighborhood and transportation improvements through Anaheim Public Works and community revitalization through Community & Economic Development. Anaheim is a modern, diverse city with a proud history dating back to its 1857 founding. Anaheim is known worldwide as the home of the Disneyland Resort, including Walt Disney’s original Disneyland Park, as well as Angel Stadium of Anaheim and Angels Baseball, Honda Center and the Anaheim Ducks, and the Anaheim Convention Center, the largest on the West Coast. Anaheim’s thriving visitor industry and business community help support the city’s neighborhoods and make Anaheim a great place to live, work and play. For more, please see www.anaheim.net.
About the Anaheim Family YMCA
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Anaheim Family YMCA was founded in 1911 and currently impacts nearly 20,000 youth, teens and adults in Anaheim, Cypress, Stanton and La Palma. YMCA programs span from early childhood education, after-school, youth sports, swim, summer camps, summer learning, S.T.E.M. enrichment, healthy living and wellness, volunteerism and community service. For more information about the Anaheim Family YMCA’s programs and resources please visit www.anaheimymca.org.
About the Disneyland Resort
Located on approximately 500 acres in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure park – plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s three hotels are the 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the 973-room Disneyland Hotel and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. With 30,000 cast members, the Disneyland Resort is Orange County’s largest employer and generates $5.7 billion for the Southern California economy. The Resort has welcomed more than 800 million guests since opening on July 17, 1955.
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media enterprise with the following business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media. Being a good corporate citizen is a time-honored Disney tradition. Through contributions, collaborations with local organizations, in-kind gifts and volunteering, Disney helps to brighten the lives of kids and families in need and strengthen communities around the world. For more information visit,TheWaltDisneyCompany.com/Citizenship or Twitter.com/CitizenDisney.
About KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – especially those living in poverty – the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play. KaBOOM! inspires communities to make play the easy choice and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of PLAYces. KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build or improve more than 17,000 playspaces, engaged more than 1.5 million volunteers and served over 9 million kids. To learn why play matters for all kids, visit kaboom.org and join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom, facebook.com/kaboomand instagram.com/kaboom. #playmatters #PLAYceforKids
