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TMC PARTNERS WITH PIMA COUNTY, SOUTHERN ARIZONA COMMUNITY SPORTS TO BUILD INDOOR YOUTH SPORTS COMPLEX
Tucson Medical Center entered into a partnership to fund the construction of a new indoor sports facility at La Cholla and River Road. The 40,000-square-foot center, scheduled to open in mid-2013, will allow youth and adults to play basketball, volleyball and other athletic activities year-round.
“TMC’s mission expands far beyond the hospital walls. A recently completed community health needs assessment showed that cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes are among the top killers in our community and with the rising obesity rate, that will continue,” said Julia Strange, vice president, Community Benefit, Tucson Medical Center. “We wanted to impact that in a real way, and this is one way for us to do that.”
From left, Southern Arizona Community Sports Center Board Member, Gary Malis; Honorary Board Member, Coach Lute Olson; Founder and Chairman of the Southern Arizona Sports Center Don Tringali; and Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson broke ground on the indoor youth sports park in the summer of 2012.
University of Arizona Hall of Fame basketball coach Lute Olson attended the groundbreaking and spoke about the importance of the Southern Arizona Community Sports Center – which expands social and wellness opportunities throughout Pima County, but particularly serves youngsters in the northwest and nearby Flowing Wells area, where 67 percent of district school children qualify for free or reduced lunch.
“Believe me, there is nothing more needed in this community in my opinion than an indoor sports facility where kids can come play sports in a safe place,” Olson said. “This has been a wonderful thing and it is great to see all of the various people who have stepped up. It is great news that TMC is stepping up big time for this.” The project is a unique public/private partnership between Pima County and its partnering organizations, including Southern Arizona Community Sports and TMC. The project also has received substantial financial support from the Tucson Conquistadores and Sporting Chance Youth Basketball Inc.