FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Supt. Mary Merrill
Anderson, 612-661-4865 or 4850, cell 612-590-4302
Commissioner Walt Dziedzic,
612-781-4080
Ginger Sisco, Sisco Public Relations,
Inc., 763-544-0629,
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
NORTHEAST
WATER PARK TO BE RENAMED
JIM LUPIENT
WATER PARK IN CEREMONY JULY 12
The Lupient
Foundation pledges at least $500,000
for
operation of water park over the next ten years
Minneapolis, MN�July 9, 2003�If Jim
Lupient and Park Board Commissioner Walt Dziedzic have their way, every
adult and child in Minneapolis will have an opportunity to learn to
swim. If a family can�t afford it, a scholarship will be
provided. The Lupient Foundation brought that dream to reality by
committing at least $500,000 in contributions to the operation of the
Park Board�s water park in northeast Minneapolis over the next ten
years.
In recognition of the financial
commitment from The Lupient Foundation, the Park Board will hold a
ceremony on July 12 at 11 a.m. to change the name of the Northeast Water
Park to Jim Lupient Water Park (1520 NE Johnson St.). There
is free admission to the water park between 11 a.m. � 2 p.m. that
day.
�I want to help expand the use of the
water park to make it possible for everyone to learn to swim so that we
can avoid unnecessary deaths from drowning,� said Jim Lupient. In
pledging at least $50,000 a year, Jim and Barbara Lupient will make the
pool accessible to those who can�t afford the cost of swimming classes.
Jim Lupient was raised in northeast
Minneapolis. Walt Dziedzic went to Lupient to share with him of the
challenges of many of the families in northeast Minneapolis. �He
asked me for specifics on what our families need. The Park Board
staff identified Learn to Swim scholarships and Aqua
Stars, a program to reward youth who perform good deeds in their
community and perform well at school. We�ll provide passes to
swimming lessons at the Jim Lupient Water Park. Jim and Barbara
liked our concepts.�
Materials promoting the Learn to
Swim scholarships have been printed in Hmong, Somali and
Spanish. They will be distributed throughout the Minneapolis park
system and through social service agencies.
�We are very excited about this new
partnership with the Lupient Foundation,� said Park Board Superintendent
Mary Merrill Anderson. �Jim�s generosity is making it possible for
us to increase the swimming skills of all children and adults. We
know this has been out of the reach of some of our families and
particularly the new immigrants in the neighborhoods around the Jim
Lupient Water Park.�
The Lupient Foundation and Park Board
will evaluate the water park programs. Dziedzic is optimistic about
bringing the Lupients in as partners on capital projects in the future
for the water park and the adjacent Northeast Park.
Details of Jim Lupient Water Park,
1520 NE Johnson St., 612-370-4937,
www.minneapolisparks.org
- Season passes are $50 for the first person, $90 for first person and
next person in the household, with $20 additional for each additional
person in the household. Admission for adults is $6 and $5 for
children. After 6 p.m., it is $1 less.
- There are three big water slides, lily pads, sprays, and four
geysers. No child shorter than 48 inches can use the water
slides.
- The pool is designed for younger children. The greatest depth
is 4 � feet. There is an area of zero depth for wheelchair
accessibility.
- Swimming lessons are provided until noon. Lap swimming occurs
from noon � 1 p.m. The pool is open for general use from 1 � 8
p.m.
- The entire pool can be rented by groups between 8-10 p.m. There
are tables in areas surrounding the pool that can be rented for special
parties during the day.
- The Park Board has a staff of 16 lifeguards. The pool�s
capacity is just over 800 plus room for more than 130 in the spray
pool.
- Showers are outside. There are two family changing rooms but no
general changing rooms and lockers.
- Concessions are available.
