Coffey Strong Receives Kaiser Permanente Grant for Rebuilding of Neighborhood Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KAISER PERMANENTE DONATES $500,000 TO SUPPORT REBUILDING COFFEY NEIGHBORHOOD PARK

Santa Rosa, CA, Apr. 2, 2019 — Kaiser Permanente has donated $500,000 to rebuild the community park in the Coffey Park neighborhood. The 5.85-acre Coffey Neighborhood Park, which was a centerpiece for the Coffey Park neighborhood and surrounding area, was destroyed in the Tubbs Fire in October 2017.

“Not only does this park fit Kaiser Permanente’s preventive health strategy of active living, but it also is part of our fire recovery efforts to rebuild the health and vitality of our community” said Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Manager Alena Wall. “Kaiser Permanente is proud to support these local efforts.”

Coffey Strong, the City of Santa Rosa, and Santa Rosa Parks Foundation are working together to redevelop the park. As part of the predevelopment process, the City of Santa Rosa conducted surveys and engaged residents in listening sessions to ensure community input is included in the design. The local Rotary Club led a play structure design day for fourth graders from Coffey Park’s Shaeffer Charter School. The children recommended fire-resistant native plantings, a dog park, and innovative play structures such as a fire truck seesaw to recognize first responders.

“Coffey Strong is beyond thrilled to be the recipient of this wonderful grant. With the kindness and generosity of Kaiser Permanente our community will be able to rebuild our park faster and more beautiful. We cannot thank Kaiser enough,” said Jeff Okrepkie, Founder and President of Coffey Strong. “The ability to team public, private, and nonprofit to accomplish such an amazing feat is truly something all resilient communities should aspire to.”

Coffey Strong, Inc., is a neighborhood non-profit organization dedicated to helping residents rebuild their lives and homes in Coffey Park. The neighborhood park has been a cornerstone of recreational activity for the residents of the area for over 30 years. Its reconstruction will not only provide those recreational opportunities again, but also help in the healing process as residents rebuild their lives. The Coffey Park neighborhood park reconstruction is truly a community effort.

Final public comments on the Master Plan for the Park will be taken at the Santa Rosa City Council meeting on April 2, 2019, after which the Council is expected to make its final design decision. Reconstruction of the park is slated for completion in early 2020.

For more information on this joint effort, please visit Coffey Strong, City of Santa Rosa Parks and Recreation Department, and the Santa Rosa Parks Foundation.

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About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 12.2 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share.