Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier hosted the 12th Annual PALpalooza on Tuesday, July 26 from 5-9 p.m. The Santa Monica Police Activities League (PAL) and more than 18 California Police Activities League (CAL-PAL) chapters received a free, fun-filled back-to-school treat.
PALpalooza had its largest attendance with more than 700 kids enjoying Pacific Park’s exciting rides, midway games and a food selection from the Park’s oceanfront food court. The kids also delighted with desserts of cotton candy and popcorn.
An oversized canvas was available for kids to imprint their paint-dipped hands for a one-of-a-kind PALpalooza mural to be displayed at the PAL Youth Center. In addition, Santa Monica Police Department displayed an antique patrol car for kids to explore.
Santa Monica PAL is Pacific Park’s primary charitable organization on the Westside. The two-acre amusement park donated all food, drinks, games and rides for PALpalooza.
“This is a fun-filled event for PAL kids from Santa Monica and throughout California to spend a free afternoon at Pacific Park to enjoy the rides, sun and beach before heading back to school,” said Jeff Klocke, Vice President at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “PALpalooza has special meaning for Pacific Park’s employees. They have enjoyed the opportunity over the last 12 years to provide thousands of kids with a back-to-school treat.”
The Santa Monica PAL is a City-operated nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe and supervised place for young people ages 6 through 17. PAL teaches skills, promotes self-respect and respect for others, and helps kids reach out to their peers and to adults. PAL provides free academic and cultural programs and a wide variety of recreational activities. Each year hundreds of youth learn to work and play in groups, with individual attention available whenever it is needed.
“PALpalooza at Pacific Park continues to get better each year. With a record turnout, the kids from Santa Monica PAL and CAL-PAL chapters throughout the state had a wonderful time before heading back to school,” says Eula Fritz, director of the Santa Monica Police Activities League. “Pacific Park is a true community partner and we are grateful for all they do for the kids during PALpalooza and throughout the year.”
CAL-PAL’s primary goal is to assist police and sheriff departments in establishing and developing PAL chapters in every community in California; thereby ensuring that all California youth have the opportunity to participate in California PAL programs. CAL-PAL is California’s largest juvenile crime prevention program with an active participation of over 300,000 youth.
The Santa Monica PAL Youth Center is located at 1401 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404. For additional information or to donate, please call 310-458-8988 or visit www.smpal.org.
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, LA’s only admission free amusement park, offers 12 amusement rides, 14 midway games, an oceanfront food plaza and beachside retail shops. Signature rides include the Pacific Wheel, the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel; The West Coaster, a steel roller coaster that races 55 feet above the Santa Monica Bay; and Inkie’s Air Lift Balloon Ride, the high-flying, family-share kids ride. For additional information and hours of operation, call 310-260-8744, visit www.pacpark.com, follow on Twitter: @pacpark and Facebook: facebook.com/pacificpark
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