Families, Parks and Recreation
Press
Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Heather Allebaugh (407)
246.3423
Victoria Shade (407)
246.4318
Mayor Dyer Joins Orlando Magic, center Dwight Howard,
guard Rafer Alston and KaBOOM!, for a Work-Along to
Build New Playground in Just One Day for Children at
John H. Jackson Community Center
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WHAT: |
Mayor Buddy
Dyer and District 5 City Commissioner Daisy
Lynum will join more than 300 volunteers from
the Orlando Magic, organizers from KaBOOM! and
residents of the local community on Thursday,
March 5 to build a new playground at the John H.
Jackson Community Center. The playground’s
design is based on drawings provided by children
who attended a Design Day event in January and
incorporates the colors of the Orlando Magic.
The new playground will provide hundreds
of children in Parramore who frequent the John
H. Jackson Community Center with a safe place to
play. The addition of this playground will
provide an additional form of play within a
reasonable distance for this walking-oriented
community. The City of Orlando was recently
named one of the nation’s “Playful City USA”
communities by KaBOOM! in honor of its
innovative efforts in making play a priority for
local children.
This playspace is the
third built by KaBOOM! and the Magic, and one of
more than 200 that KaBOOM! will lead across the
country in 2009. KaBOOM! is a national
non-profit organization that envisions a great
place to play within walking distance of every
child in America.
Since becoming Mayor,
Buddy Dyer has regularly spent time in the field
working with different City staff through his
Mayor’s Work-Alongs. These experiences gave him
firsthand knowledge of the City’s services and
an opportunity to work side-by-side with City
employees. This year, as part of the Strengthen
Orlando plan, Mayor Dyer will transition his
series of work-alongs to focus primarily on
community service. Through leading by example,
Mayor Dyer encourages citizens to get involved
and give back to their community. Together, we
can all help Strengthen Orlando.
Orlando’s NBA franchise since 1989, the Magic’s
mission is to be world champions on and off the
court, delivering legendary moments every step
of the way. Off the court, on an annual basis
the Orlando Magic gives more than $2 million to
the local community and impact an estimated
75,000 kids each year. The Orlando Magic is also
the developer of the new downtown Events Center
opening in the fall of 2010, and the facility
will be operated by the City of Orlando and
owned by the Central Florida Community.
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VISUALS: |
- 9:00 a.m.
- Kick off
and volunteer deployment
- Before
shots of the site
- 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- Mayor
Dyer volunteering at the site and
available for medi
- 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Best time
to view playground under construction
- 3:30 p.m. (approximate)
-
Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate new
play area
- After
shots of the site
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WHO: |
Orlando Mayor
Buddy Dyer
City Commissioner District 5 Daisy
W. Lynum
City of Orlando’s Families, Parks
and Recreation Department
Orlando Magic
All-Star center Dwight Howard
Orlando Magic
guard Rafer Alston
Orlando Magic forward
Rashard Lewis
Orlando Magic Chief Operating
Officer Alex Martins
Hundreds of volunteers
from the community and the Orlando Magic
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WHEN: |
Thursday,
March 5, 2009
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WHERE: |
John H.
Jackson Community Center
1002 Carter Street |
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