For Immediate Release:
January 25, 2013

Southcoast Health System adopts Fall River's North Park

Southcoast becomes largest organization to participate in Fall River Park Advocates' "Adopt a Park" program

Volunteers from Southcoast Health System and Charlton Memorial Hospital at a clean up in Fall River's North Park in April 2012.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast™ Health System has officially adopted Fall River's North Park through the Fall River Park Advocates' "Adopt a Park" program, becoming the largest organization to participate in the community initiative.

As part of the adoption agreement, Southcoast staff, particularly those at Charlton Memorial Hospital, which is a neighbor of North Park, will be encouraged to serve as unofficial caretakers of the park by monitoring for trash, organizing park clean-ups and working with neighborhood groups to maintain and enhance the park. Trash bags will be available at the Information Desk at Charlton for any employee, resident or visitor who is interested is scanning the park for trash while enjoying a walk through the park.

"As a proud member of the Fall River community, Southcoast is excited to partner with the Fall River Park Advocates to help maintain and care for North Park," said Kerry Mello, Community Benefits Manager for Southcoast Health System. "Parks and open spaces are valuable assets to the good health of a community. They offer residents and visitors alike an outlet for many outdoor activities, like walking, running and other team-based sports and activities. We encourage everyone to take the time to enjoy the outdoors and improve your health at the same time."

North Park in Fall River is one of three city parks designated as an "Olmsted Park," designed by the firm of the famous American park architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted is best known for his design of Central Park in New York City. All of Olmsted's parks were designed to improve the quality of life in America.

"As any urban city, our parks embody Fall River's rich history — especially the historic Olmsted Parks that eloquently sit among the urban tapestry of our city," said Sandy Dennis, President of Fall River Park Advocates. "It is important to partner with groups and individuals committed to the protection, preservation and planning for the future of Fall River's parks and open spaces. We couldn't be happier to have Southcoast Health System adopt North Park."

Fall River Park Advocates was created through Fall River Mass in Motion for the purpose of developing a network of groups and individuals committed to the protection, preservation and planning for the future of Fall River's parks and open spaces. The "Adopt a Park" program is one way that a neighborhood, organization or group of individuals can help achieve the Park Advocates ultimate goal.

For more information on the Fall River Park Advocates and the "Adopt a Park" program, call Sandy Dennis at 508-679-2939 or by email at dendenllc@comcast.net.