Press Releases: Northwest
March 30, 2004
Kaiser Permanente wants you to turn off TV and instead enjoy free swims and park walks
PORTLAND, Ore. – Lack of exercise and too many hours spent watching TV are contributing to the national epidemic of obesity. Recognizing the serious threat to health that this epidemic poses, Kaiser Permanente invites Oregonians to turn off their TV during National TV Turnoff Week the third week in April.
"We and other local sponsors of TV Turnoff Week encourage everyone to try a healthy physical activity instead of sitting and watching television," says Kaiser Permanente pediatrician Phil Wu, MD. "Kaiser Permanente is making it easier for area residents to do just that by offering free swim nights at selected area pools, and partnering with the Portland Parks & Recreation's Urban Forestry Division to provide free pedometers to everyone taking a guided tree walk through any of six different Portland parks and one natural area."
The fun begins Saturday, April 17 at 9:30 a.m. with park walks at the following Portland locations:
- Columbia Park, 4301 N. Lombard (meet at Columbia Cottage)
- Couch Park, 2133 NW Couch (meet next to playground)
- Fernhill Park, NE 37th and Ainsworth (meet by tennis court)
- Irving Park, NE Fremont and 9th
- Mt. Tabor Park, SE Salmon and 65th (meet at parking lot next to the amphitheater)
- Sellwood Park, 7601 SE 7th (meet at north parking lot at 7th and Malden)
Starting at 11 a.m. that same Saturday, April 17, Kaiser Permanente will provide free admission to the first 100 children who come to the North Clackamas Aquatic Park, 7300 SE Harmony Road in Milwaukie. Later in the week, Kaiser Permanente is sponsoring free swim nights for the entire community at the following pools:
- Jim Parsley Center Pool, 2901 Falk Road in Vancouver, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21
- Conestoga Pool, 9985 SW 125th in Beaverton, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 23
- Matt Dishman Pool, 77 NE Knott in Portland, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 23
Kaiser Permanente is also paying for any child who wishes to go on the Portland Parks & Recreation's Lady Bug Walk through the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge on Friday, April 23. Geared to preschool and early elementary schoolchildren, the guided walk gets underway at 10 a.m. Meet at the tunnel across from the Oaks Park Amusement Center parking lot off SE Tacoma Street in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood.
For more information about any of these events or to learn how your family can participate in national TV Turnoff Week, please call Kaiser Permanente at 503-813-4820.
