PASCAGOULA, Miss., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ –
— More than 200 representatives from Chrysler LLC, The Chrysler
Foundation and Chrysler Financial team up with KaBOOM!, City of Pascagoula,
Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, Gulf Coast Community Foundation and local
residents on building project
— Volunteers haul more than 77,760 square feet of mulch and mix more than
21,600 pounds of concrete by hand
— Playground is the 22nd to be built nationwide in 2008 by Chrysler, Jeep
and Dodge dealers, Chrysler LLC, KaBOOM! and community partners
Before the sun set today, the more than 1,000 children who play at
Pascagoula’s 12th Street Recreation Center every year are getting a great new
place to play.
The new playground, which was fully assembled from scratch in less than
eight hours, was built with the help of more than 200 volunteers from The
Chrysler Foundation, Chrysler Financial, the City of Pascagoula, the
Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, Gulf Coast Community Foundation,
organizers from KaBOOM! and residents of the local community. Throughout the
day, volunteers hauled more than 77,760 square feet of mulch by hand in tarps,
mixed approximately 21,600 pounds of concrete by hand in wheelbarrows and
assembled brightly colored playground equipment to bring the new play area to
life.
Planning for the playground began at a Design Day event held in October.
Local children and community leaders met with organizers from KaBOOM! and
Chrysler to design their “dream” playground. The children’s drawings were used
to create the final playground design.
“The City of Pascagoula has long been known as Mississippi’s Flagship
City. And now, thanks to all of the partners in this project, Pascagoula will
have another flagship playground for the children of our community,” said
Darcie Crew, Pascagoula Parks & Recreation Director. “The playground at the
12th Street Recreation Center serves not only the Girls’ Softball League, but
the children throughout the neighborhood surrounding the complex. Pascagoula
is proud to have this opportunity to enhance this playground as the city
continues to promote healthy, exciting recreational options to benefit our
children.”
The project is the 22nd playground to be built across the country this
year by KaBOOM!, The Chrysler Foundation, and Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge
dealers. The playground is also one of more than 215 builds KaBOOM! will lead
across the country this year in an effort to provide an enjoyable place to
play within walking distance of every child in America.
Gulf Coast Community Foundation
The Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, administered by the Gulf Coast
Community Foundation, is pleased to play a role in rebuilding efforts along
the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Individuals on this project are working side by
side with neighbors and friends to make a difference and create a site that
will be used by kids, both young and old, for many years to come.
The Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund
The Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund was established by Governor
Barbour days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. Mississippi Hurricane
Recovery Fund Board Members hosted the Mississippi Rising concert in November
2006, and were also recipients of Mississippi’s portion of the Bush Clinton
Katrina Fund. Between the concert, Bush Clinton Katrina Fund and other private
donations, the MHRF raised in excess of $32 million.
The City of Pascagoula
The town of Pascagoula merged with the town of Scranton in 1904 creating
the City of Pascagoula. The City of Pascagoula, with a population of 26,000,
has long been known as Mississippi’s Flagship City, where ships are built that
have defended the United States for over a century. Pascagoula is a community
that works hard, yet can pause to take in the splendor of its beautiful
surroundings. The city is forward thinking, yet anchored in its 300 year
history. Pascagoula continues America’s proud maritime heritage along the
Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Pascagoula Parks and Recreation
The City of Pascagoula’s Parks and Recreation Department was created
approximately 40 years ago to provide quality recreation and facilities for
the citizens. The department’s vision is to provide recreational opportunities
throughout the city for the citizens, as well as to provide a safe, healthy,
and exciting environment for all age groups.
The Chrysler Foundation
The Chrysler Foundation is the primary source of charitable grants made by
Chrysler LLC. The Foundation annually supports hundreds of charitable
organizations with an emphasis on community growth and enrichment, arts and
culture, education, and youth development programs throughout the United
States and, increasingly, the world. The Foundation’s Good Neighbor, Good
Citizen(R) programs make a positive, lasting investment in local communities
where our employees, customers and neighbors live. Visit
www.thechryslerfoundation.com .
Chrysler Financial
Chrysler Financial offers automotive financial products and services to
both dealers and consumers of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles in the U.S.,
Canada, Mexico and Venezuela. In addition, it offers vehicle wholesale and
retail financing to more than 3,600 Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers. Nearly
three million drivers in the United States enjoy the benefits of financing
with Chrysler Financial. Chrysler Financial has an employee base of 4,000 and
supports a global portfolio of $70 billion. For more information, visit
http://corp.chryslerfinancial.com .
KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization that envisions a great place
to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since 1995, KaBOOM!
has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and
community interests to construct more than 1,500 new playgrounds, skate parks,
sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a
variety of resources, including an online community, regional and national
trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play,
which includes Playful City USA and the Playmaker Network – a national network
of individual advocates for play. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM!
also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif. For more information, visit
www.kaboom.org .
