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Media Alert
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MEDIA ALERT - Family Fitness and Fun Park
Each year since 2000, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has sponsored a volunteer build to kick-off its Annual Meeting, leaving behind a legacy of safe and accessible playgrounds to the Annual Meeting’s host city so that children with and without disabilities can play safely together. On Feb. 15, the first day of the AAOS 2011 Annual Meeting, orthopaedic surgeons, families and industry partners will build the Academy’s 12th volunteer-build Park—a multigenerational-use Family Fitness and Fun Park that includes a safe, accessible playground and a walking/running track around the perimeter of the playground—in San Diego at the Spring Valley and East Communities Center so that children, parents and grandparents can safely play and exercise together.
Children and parents from the surrounding neighborhoods of La Mesa/Spring Valley designed the park of their dreams, a 6,100 square-foot Family Fitness and Fun Park featuring a safety sign in Braille, a walking/running track, exercise stations for flexibility, balance and stability, wheelchair ramps and more. On build day, hundreds of volunteers will gather to help make the community’s dream park come true. Adjacent to the build site will be activities for children of all ages and abilities, such as painting, landscaping, planting and more.
AAOS is sponsoring the project in partnership with San Diego Youth Services, the Spring Valley Youth and Family Coalition, the La Mesa/Spring Valley School District and KaBOOM!, a national non-profit organization dedicated to saving play.
| WHO: |
Dianne Jacob, San Diego County Second District Supervisor; Jeffrey M. Smith, MD, a San Diego orthopaedic trauma surgeon, and Chad A. Krueger, MD, a Fort Sam Houston, Texas-based orthopaedic surgeon; representatives from San Diego Youth Services; the Spring Valley Youth and Family Coalition; the La Mesa/Spring Valley School District; and KaBOOM! will also be on hand. |
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| WHEN: |
Tues., Feb. 15, 2011
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
3:30 p.m. – Ribbon-cutting ceremony |
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| WHERE: |
Spring Valley Youth and East Communities Center
3845 Spring Drive
Spring Valley, CA 91977 |
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| WHY: |
Orthopaedic surgeons are the physicians who treat many people with physical disabilities. They see first-hand the fractures, dislocations and other results of playground injuries and falls. The Family Fitness and Fun Park build is an opportunity for orthopaedic surgeons to give back to its Annual Meeting’s host city. This park will offer children, parents and seniors exercise opportunities for balance, flexibility, and strength to help reduce and prevent falls, build strong bones and give those recovering from joint replacement a safe place to exercise |
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| PHOTO OPPS: |
Hundreds of volunteers building a new Family Fitness and Fun Park; Before shots of the playground site.
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| ABOUT: |
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; San Diego Youth Services; Spring Valley Youth and Family Coalition; La Mesa-Spring Valley School District; KaBOOM! |
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