Whitney McCarthy Woodworth
Special for The Republic 9:36 a.m. MST | October 3, 2014
Children visiting Pierce Park in Phoenix can now rhyme, count and play hopscotch along the city’s firstBorn Learning Trail, which combines fitness and learning.
Valley of the Sun United Way joined the Phoenix Parks and Recreation’s FitPhx program to create the 10-station interactive path. The 2,000-foot trail debuted Sept. 11.
The stations are specially designed for children ages 5 and under to do with their parents.
“We know that early learning is critical for children,” Valley of the Sun United Way CEO Merl Waschler said. “Our stations turn moments into opportunities to build language and literary skills that we know help prepare for kindergarten.”
A $5,000 grant from UPS covered the cost of the building materials and signs. More than 20 UPS employees also volunteered their time to assemble and build the trail over a two-day period.
“The trail is a testament to UPS’ commitment to making a difference in our community,” Waschler said.
