Opa-locka, Fla. (PRWEB)
June 28, 2015

The Miami Foundation awarded the Opa-locka Community Development Corporation (OLCDC) a $ 20,000 grant through its 2015 Community Grants Program, which awards more than $ 1.2 million in grants annually. The grant will be used to create the only free, outdoor fitness area in the city, making fitness and health more accessible by promoting physical activity to residents 18 years of age and older, veterans and those with disabilities.

Health and fitness is the main focus of the park’s transformation although a picnic area and community garden will also be added to the park. There is currently no gym or fitness center in the city of Opa-locka – Gyms in the area are more than 2-5 miles away and require membership fees that many Opa-locka residents, 39 percent of whom live below the poverty level, cannot afford to pay. With the help of more than 250 volunteers, two vacant lots adjacent to the existing park will be transformed into exercise stations and will include six fitness machines. Free health and certified fitness trainers will also visit the park twice a week to provide fitness classes and guidance to residents based on their interests and health concerns.

“This grant will help us to positively impact the health of Opa-locka residents by promoting physical activity and addressing health disparities in our community. Adults who bring their children to the playground can exercise and improve their own physical well-being, promoting an on-going culture of healthy lifestyles for families, outdoor activities and community interaction.” Said OLCDC President and CEO Willie Logan, Ph.D.

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ABOUT THE OPA-LOCKA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The Opa-locka Community Development Corporation (OLCDC) was established in November 1980 as a non-profit community development corporation in order to address the distressed unemployment conditions, particularly in the Opa-locka and North Dade County, Florida, communities. Its primary mission is to transform neighborhoods by capitalizing on community assets, empowering residents and creating community and economic initiatives that serve as a catalyst in promoting sustainable development. For more information about OLCDC, please visit http://www.olcdc.org.

ABOUT THE MIAMI FOUNDATION

Established in 1967, The Miami Foundation uses civic leadership, community investment and philanthropy to improve the quality of life for everyone who calls Greater Miami home. We’ve partnered with individuals, families and corporations who have created more than 1,000 personalized, philanthropic Funds. Thanks to them, we’ve awarded over $ 200 million in grants and currently manage $ 225 million in assets to build a greater Miami. Learn more about the Foundation and the Our Miami Report, which informs our work, at miamifoundation.org and ourmiami.org.







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