Dream Playground Officially Opened on Play Day in San Bernardino

San Bernardino added a brand new playground for the kids throughout the community this past Saturday, Oct. 18. Starting on Aug. 28, KaBOOM And Dr. Pepper Snapple Group hosted a drawing design session for kids of the community of San Bernardino at the Home of Neighborly Services in order to implement everyone’s “Dream Playground” ideas. Then, on Oct. 15, the entire community came together along with volunteers from Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, KaBOOM, the Parks and Recreation Department, Generation Now, and many others, which made up over 200 volunteers helping build the kids’ “Dream Playground,” not mentioning the 68 kids from Mt. Vernon Elementary who stopped by while everyone was building the playground. All the students gathered to say thank you to all of those volunteering to help build their dream playground. Jorge Oheredia from the group Generation Now in San Bernardino, who volunteered from the very beginning of the project, said, “It really put everything into perspective when the kids came and said thank you. It almost brought a tear to me eye. This is their playground.” The playground officially opened to the community that following Saturday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m. Councilmember Virginia Marquez of the 1st Ward was on of many driving forces of the project. She gave a brief speech and handed out certificates to those who were instrumental in making this playground happen. Marquez kept the program short, mentioning, “The kids… they’re very anxious; they can’t wait any longer, they want to play.” San Bernardino Mayor Carey Davis also gave a brief speech during the ceremony. He also volunteered and helped build the playground the previous Wednesday. “Wednesday was very exciting for me. I had an opportunity to put together some of the equipment… not only fun but to associate with many of you who participated and made it successful,” he said. After many certificates were presented to different groups, people, and organizations throughout the community that contributed to this project, the kids were finally able to start playing. Mt. Vernon Elementary students made a very long ribbon specifically for the opening of the playground, with the kids gathering around the playground, making a circle and holding the ribbon together. Parks and Recreation Director Mickey Valdivia started the count down from 10. All the kids chimed in on the countdown, and the second it got down to one, the kids ripped the ribbon and sprinted toward the playground. The playground is next door to the Home of Neighborly Services in San Bernardino. To finalize the project, Marquez called up the last speaker before all the children could start playing. Councilmember Jim Mulvihill of the 7th ward came up and read the proclamation from the City of San Bernardino. “We therefore proclaim Oct. 18 as ‘Play Day’ in the City of San Bernardino,” Mulvihill read. [END] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Eileen Hards, (909) 384-8188 or (951) 440-6034, ehards@westboundcommunications.com 200 Volunteers Improve San Bernardino Kids’ Lives & Futures with Play Partners Join Forces to Create a New Playground at The Home of Neighborly Service Wednesday, October 15, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Photo/Interview Opportunities Available WHAT: More than 200 volunteers from the City of San Bernardino (@sbcitygov), The Home of Neighborly Service, Dr Pepper Snapple Group (@drpeppersnapple) and organizers from national non-profit KaBOOM! (@kaboom) will join forces on Wednesday, October 15, to give area kids the childhood they deserve by building a new playground at The Home of Neighborly Services. The design is based on children’s drawings created at a special design event in August. WHEN: Wednesday, October 15 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Kick-off ceremony 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Best viewing of playground construction 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Final construction phase 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Ribbon-cutting ceremony (Times approximate) Saturday, October 18 10 a.m. A brief grand opening ceremony will be held prior to the playground opening for kids to play WHERE: The Home of Neighborly Service 839 North Mt. Vernon Ave. San Bernardino, CA 92411 WHY: A playground is more than a playground. It’s a brain-expander, friend-maker, and muscle-builder. Play is central to a child’s ability to grow into a productive adult. It can transform children from sedentary, bored and solitary to physically, mentally and socially active. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has been dedicated to the bold goal of bringing balanced and active play into the daily lives of all children because #playmatters. Currently, many of the children in the surrounding neighborhoods do not have a fun, safe and accessible place to play. A new playground will effectively address these needs, providing the youth and families with a communal area to grow, play and thrive together. In building this playground, we can help create a neighborhood gathering place that promotes healthy play and well-being for kids and families to enioy for years to come. Dr Pepper Snapple Group supports KaBOOM! in promoting and protecting a child’s right to active play at home, at school and in the community. The project is part of Let’s Play (@LetsPlay), a community partnership led by Dr Pepper Snapple Group to get kids and families active nationwide. Via Let’s Play grants and projects, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and KaBOOM! has built or improved more than 2,000 playgrounds since 2011, benefitting an estimated 5 million children during the lifetimes of the playgrounds. Dr Pepper Snapple Group is also a member of the leadership circle in the KaBOOM! National Partner Program. Through this partnership, more children will have the joyful childhood they deserve. VISUALS: Before and after shots Volunteers assembling, carrying, and installing brightly colored playground equipment Volunteers moving 56,700 square feet of safety surfacing by hand Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the playground AVAILABLE FOR Roger Conway, Dr Pepper Snapple Group INTERVIEWS: Jerry Martin, The Home of Neighborly Services Mayor R. Carey Davis, City of San Bernardino Councilmember Virginia Marquez, City of San Bernardino Mickey Valdivia, City of San Bernardino Parks, Recreation and Community Services City of San Bernardino The City of San Bernardino Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department is dedicating to creating community through people, parks and programs. We offer a diverse variety of services, to appeal to a wide audience - from tutoring, crafts, zumba, martial arts, tap dance, piano, step, civic engagement, nutrition classes, walking clubs, tennis, basketball, baseball, soccer and aquatics. We also have services for individuals with disabilities, seniors and youth. The Home of Neighborly Service Operating since 1922, the mission of the Home of Neighborly Service is: to provide a variety of services for youth, adults, seniors and families that promote, enhance and enrich the quality of life. This non-profit will be a key partner in outreaching with the surrounding community and programming for the prospective Kaboom build site. A few programs include nutrition classes, food distribution and dance classes. About Let’s Play Let’s Play is a community partnership led by Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) to get kids and families active nationwide. Since Let’s Play launched in 2011, DPS has worked with nonprofit KaBOOM! to build or improve more than 2,000 playgrounds across North America and in 2014 partnered with Good Sports to provide sports gear for deserving athletic organizations in communities coast to coast. For more information, visit LetsPlay.com or Facebook.com/LetsPlay. About Dr Pepper Snapple Group Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) is a leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. Our success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. We have 6 of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and 13 of our 14 leading brands are No. 1 or No. 2 in their flavor categories. In addition to our flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, our portfolio includes 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Clamato, Crush, Hawaiian Punch, Mott's, Mr & Mrs T mixers, Peñafiel, Rose's, Schweppes, Squirt and Sunkist soda. To learn more about our iconic brands and Plano, Texas-based company, please visit DrPepperSnapple.com. For our latest news and updates, follow us at Facebook.com/DrPepperSnapple or Twitter.com/DrPepperSnapple. KaBOOM! KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to bringing balanced and active play into the daily lives of all kids, particularly those growing up in poverty in America. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open or improve nearly 16,000 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers and served 7.4 million children. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy lives and communities. To learn why #playmatters: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom.