GIRLS PLAY - SMARTER, FASTER & STRONGER
The 8th Annual Girls Sports Day L.A.

Los Angeles - Over 600 girls now play - smarter, faster and stronger thanks to the 8th annual Girls Sports Day L.A. event on April 8th. Rancho Cienega Sports Complex, a City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks facility, hosted the free event that is devoted to increasing female involvement in athletics.

Hundreds of young girls ages 6-16 spent the day learning about and participating in various sports activities, including free clinics in basketball, softball, soccer and golf. Every participant got the chance to spend time in each clinic.

A special guest appearance was made by Mwadi Mabika from the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA in the basketball clinic. Department staff supervised all of the clinics with help from various outside sources. Dorsey High School's Girls Soccer Team helped with the soccer clinic, along with Pretty Tough Sports. Tregnan Golf Academy surveyed the golf clinic and RBI helped to run the softball workshop.

Each participant received lunch and a free t-shirt. The event was established through a partnership between Recreation and Parks and Los Angeles Women in Sports (LAWins), and is part of the Department's Raise the Bar Gender Equity Program, which strives to "achieve gender equity through continuous commitment to girls and women in sports."


MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jane Kolb: (213)928-9294, or cell, (323)816-6712
Harvey Drut: (213)9289296, or cell (323)816-6711

THE BIG BLOOM OF CHERRY BLOSSOMS
At Lake Balboa in Van Nuys


Van Nuys - Did you miss the annual bloom of the Japanese cherry blossom trees at Lake Balboa? Well here's your chance to get a taste of what you missed.




With over 2,000 cherry blossom trees at Lake Balboa, a City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks facility, the annual bloom is quite a sight to see. This year the trees were at full bloom during the week of March 20th.

The cherry trees are the Pink Cloud variety, which means that they are ornamental and not fruit-producing. The plants were donated by an anonymous Japanese benefactor and were planted in 1992. They originated from a single parent tree and were developed to grow in warm climates. The flower has a single row of petals in a circular shape, just like those that are found on cherry trees in Japan.

The beautiful blossoms create a pictureque display of natural beauty for park visitors. Lake Balboa/Beilenson Park offers a variety of activities for all ages to enjoy. There's a bicycle path, a separate walking/jogging path, picnic areas and a children's play area. Water enthusiasts can enjoy pedal boats, kayaking, fishing and more.

Lake Balboa is located on Balboa Blvd., between Burbank Blvd. and Victory Blvd. For more information call (818)785-5798.



MEDIA CONTACT:
Jane Kolb: (213)928-9294, or cell, (323)816-6712