Mayor Buddy Dyer and District 5 City Commissioner Daisy Lynum will join more than 300 volunteers from the Orlando Magic, organizers from KaBOOM! and residents of the local community on Thursday, March 5 to build a new playground at the John H. Jackson Community Center. The playground’s design is based on drawings provided by children who attended a Design Day event in January and incorporates the colors of the Orlando Magic.

The new playground will provide hundreds of children in Parramore who frequent the John H. Jackson Community Center with a safe place to play. The addition of this playground will provide an additional form of play within a reasonable distance for this walking-oriented community. The City of Orlando was recently named one of the nation’s “Playful City USA” communities by KaBOOM! in honor of its innovative efforts in making play a priority for local children.

This playspace is the third built by KaBOOM! and the Magic, and one of more than 200 that KaBOOM! will lead across the country in 2009. KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

Since becoming Mayor, Buddy Dyer has regularly spent time in the field working with different City staff through his Mayor’s Work-Alongs. These experiences gave him firsthand knowledge of the City’s services and an opportunity to work side-by-side with City employees. This year, as part of the Strengthen Orlando plan, Mayor Dyer will transition his series of work-alongs to focus primarily on community service. Through leading by example, Mayor Dyer encourages citizens to get involved and give back to their community. Together, we can all help Strengthen Orlando.

Orlando’s NBA franchise since 1989, the Magic’s mission is to be world champions on and off the court, delivering legendary moments every step of the way. Off the court, on an annual basis the Orlando Magic gives more than $2 million to the local community and impact an estimated 75,000 kids each year. The Orlando Magic is also the developer of the new downtown Events Center opening in the fall of 2010, and the facility will be operated by the City of Orlando and owned by the Central Florida Community.
 

• 9:00 a.m.
  • Kick off and volunteer deployment
  • Before shots of the site
• 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
  • Mayor Dyer volunteering at the site and available for medi
• 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
  • Best time to view playground under construction
• 3:30 p.m. (approximate)
  • Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate new play area
  • After shots of the site