For Immediate Release: 6/25/2014 2:33 pm
Worcester, MA (June 25, 2014) - City officials and community partners will be on hand at 3:30 PM July 1st at East Park for a press conference and ribbon cutting event celebrating the start of the popular Wheels to Water & Beyond program.
Now in its sixth year, Wheels to Water & Beyond provides free transportation to local swimming spots for city youths ages 7 through 17. The program offers swimming opportunities to children who would not ordinarily have access to pools, and employs high school and college students as chaperones and mentors.
During Tuesday's event, officials will also cut the ribbon for the brand new spray park at East Park. This facility is part of a long-term aquatic plan to put a pool and spray park in each of the City's five council districts. It will be the City's second spray park after the one at Greenwood Park. The East Park spray park was built with money from CSX Corporation, which set up a Neighborhood Improvement Fund after negotiations with the City to benefit the neighborhood impacted by their new freight yard.
Wheels to Water & Beyond will start on July 7th. Kids must pre-register for the swimming component. Applications are available at many participating neighborhood organizations and at the City's website. Brochures are available in English and Spanish, and registration is currently underway.
Friendly House, which continues to be a tremendous partner, will again facilitate transportation to local pools at the Boys and Girls Club, YWCA of Central Massachusetts, YMCA – Central Branch, Girls Inc., Jewish Community Center, WPI and Holy Cross.
This year, the program also features a drop-in recreation component. At five parks across the City, kids will be able to drop in and participate in organized sports and other recreation activities, free of charge. Free lunch will also be provided. The recreation programs are offered at Kendrick Field, University Park, Greenwood Park, Logan Field and East Park.
