[SAHUARITA, AZ – July 2023] –The Town of Sahuarita is excited to announce that a new playground will be coming to Sahuarita with support from $100,000 in funding assistance from GameTime through a program developed in partnership with Arizona Parks and Recreation Association. The new equipment will replace the existing play space located at Anamax Park.
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring this state-of-the-art play and recreation space to Sahuarita,” said Devin Stalder, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services for the Town of Sahuarita. “We know this partnership will result in more accessible and friendly areas for our children to play and exercise.”
In addition to receiving funding assistance, parks, and recreation professionals attended in-person training sessions on evidence-based best practices in play and recreation design and programming from PlayCore’s Center for Outreach, Research, and Education (CORE). To align these learnings and foster inclusion, engagement with nature, and physical activity, the Town of Sahuarita, as an APRA member agency, submitted an application for funding assistance to develop a new play and recreation space that will put the research into practice.
“Building a great play and recreation space is an important step in making a successful park. An equally important step is making sure it’s a place that meets the needs of families for generations to come,” said Robert Barron, Senior Vice President at GameTime. “The educational training and professional development equip parks professionals with research and design best practices to create spaces everyone will love to visit, places that promote physical activity, and encourage people of all ages and abilities to play together.”
At the conclusion of this project, the space will be designated as a National Demonstration Site by PlayCore. National Demonstration Sites are part of a nationwide research project to collect, translate, and report anonymous usage data about the park and its long-term impact on the local community. These data reports help demonstrate how investing in parks and recreation results in positive outcomes, grows social capital, and builds strong communities through the power of play and recreation.
PlayCore is a purpose-driven Company committed to building healthy communities around the world by advancing play and recreation. The company infuses scholarly learning, through its Center for Outreach, Research, and Education, into its comprehensive family of brands. PlayCore combines best-in-class educational programming with the most comprehensive portfolio of play and recreation products and services to create tailored environments that match the unique needs of each community served. Learn more at www.playcore.com
GameTime is a leading manufacturer of commercial playgrounds, custom play spaces, and outdoor fitness equipment. Headquartered in Fort Payne, Alabama, and with distribution around the world, GameTime has been dedicated to enriching childhood through play since our founding in 1929 and works to create play environments that make the world a better place for people of all ages and abilities. Learn more at https://www.gametime.com/.
Organized in 1950, APRA serves professionals throughout the State of Arizona. To deliver the most to our members, APRA has designated Regional Representatives who serve in each of the five regions of the state. These five region reps serve on the APRA Board of Directors and act as the liaison between members and the board by maintaining relationships with members, assisting the program committee by communicating the training needs of their respective areas and actively participating in relevant advocacy efforts. Our mission is to connect, educate, and inspire all who enhance the quality of life through the profession of parks, recreation, and the protection of natural resources.