Get Up & Go! New Recreation Program Starts January 12th

January 7, 2008 (No. 2) - Get Up & Go! is an innovative program created by a staff team from the Vancouver School and Park Boards. This program brings new activity choices into two local schools with the goal of encouraging tight-knit communities and an elevated level of physical conscientiousness. Two high schools will open their gymnasiums on Saturdays to offer the public a line up of recreational sport programs previously exclusive to community centres.

Kicking-off January 12, 2008, the pilot projects connect the Renfrew Park Community Centre with Windermere Secondary and the West End Community Centre with King George Secondary. Community members of all different ages will be able to engage in tennis, soccer, badminton, sit volleyball, regular volleyball, basketball and table tennis at Windermere. King George will offer cosom hockey, futsal, badminton, basketball and volleyball.

"Community centre gyms are filling up," explained Christine Macer, Coordinator of the Windermere Community Schools Team, "and the idea to open school gyms makes programs available to more people of all ages and takes advantage of this valuable resource in our community". School gymnasiums already hold the necessary equipment for most of the scheduled activities. As well, schools are a significant part of the community with convenient locations, ample parking, change rooms and, for many, are places of familiarity.

Early registration as well as program schedules will be available at local community centres. Offering programs for youth, adults and mature members of the community, it is hoped that the pilot projects' success will lead to partnerships between communities, recreation centres and schools throughout Vancouver.

Support for the School-Community Connections Project is provided by funding from the BC School Trustees Association and the Union of BC Municipalities through a grant from the BC Ministry of Education.

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Contact: Booth Palmer, Coordinator Child and Youth Recreation Services, 604-257-8431
www.vancouverparks.ca

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 220 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.