Via Portland Parks and Recreation:

Jerome Kersey to Help Celebrate Public/Private Partnership on NE Portland’s King School Park

Beginning this summer, local teens can express their uncontainable moves on a completely renovated basketball court at Portland’s King School Park on NE 6th Ave and Humboldt St. The court will be revamped as a kick-off to the Sprite Spark Parks Project, a program that will refresh an additional 25 basketball courts in public parks and recreation centers throughout the nation.

In partnership with the Portland Trail Blazers, Sprite will donate $20,000 to Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) to refurbish rims, backboards, benches and playing surfaces – sparking new life to King School Park. The park is on Portland Public School property, and managed by PP&R. Work is expected to be complete by the end of summer. Both the park and adjacent school are named for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“This is another wonderful example of a successful public-private partnership,” says Portland Parks Commissioner Nick Fish. “Sprite and the Trail Blazers are helping us increase the neighborhood’s vitality and livability with their generosity. The King School Park court enhancements will benefit the neighborhood, King School students, and park users for a long, long time.”

“The mission of the Sprite Spark Parks Project is to refresh neighborhood play spaces where teens can be uncontainable, and this year, we’re getting courts back in the game,” said William H. O’Brien, senior vice president and general manager of Coca-Cola Refreshments, Northwest region. “We’re excited to kick off this year’s program, and what better way to celebrate than to provide an amazing setting for young ballers to hone their skills.”

Media and the public are invited to the kickoff celebration for the project

WHAT: Celebration of King School Park revitalization
WHEN: Saturday, April 28, 11am-12noon
WHERE: King School Park, NE 6th Ave. & Humboldt St.

The event will feature Portland Trail Blazers legend and Community Ambassador Jerome Kersey, games, and the famous BlazerDancers! Kids from the Trail Blazers Boys and Girls Club will be on hand, as will Blaze, the Trail Blazers mascot, City Commissioner Nick Fish, PP&R Director Mike Abbaté, and representatives from Sprite and Portland Public Schools.

The celebration will include a court dedication, ceremonial cutting of the net, and games for youth.

About King School Park
King School Park is a popular site. PP&R expects 12,000 park visits between May and September. The community will benefit from having a sparkling new place to play in the park, promoting physical fitness and providing positive alternatives to city teens. Both the park and adjacent school are named for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The nine acre park includes the basketball court, plus paved and unpaved paths picnic tables, a playground, soccer field, softball field, tennis court, and track.

PP&R King School Website: http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=217

About Sprite Spark Parks
Sprite Spark Parks is a national initiative to construct, refurbish and refresh neighborhood basketball courts in parks throughout the U.S. The Sprite Spark Parks initiative is a multi-year commitment to build and restore places where kids, teens, families and communities are active outdoors. Through its work with kids, teens and parents, Sprite is contributed more than $2 million into building and revamping outdoor spaces throughout the country in 2011.

In partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, Sprite Spark Parks is expanding this program in 2012.

For more information, call 503-823-5300 or visit portlandparks.org.