Fun and Games for a Good Cause

By Lookout Staff

June 25 -- Pacific Park, the amusement zone on the Pier, will treat some 500 kids to free fun and games Tuesday evening as part of the third annual PALpalooza sponsored by the Santa Monica Police Activities League (PAL).

The event, which takes place from 5 to 9 p.m., offers the more than 100 California PAL (CAL-PAL) chapters the chance to bring their members to the beachside city and help raise funds for their local counterpart, which offers free programs to more that 1,600 area youths.

“Pacific Park and the Santa Monica PAL have grown this concept from a local event to a statewide program where this year it is expected that three times as many kids will be able to take pleasure in a safe, fun and memorable experience at Pacific Park,” says Jeff Klocke, director of marketing at Pacific Park.

“We are fortunate to continue our work with PAL and to be able to provide the resources for the kids to enjoy a free event and generate funding assistance for the local chapter,” he said.

“Our officers really enjoy interacting with the kids and the community while participating in the various demonstrations and exhibits,” says Lt. Alex Padilla, the Police Department spokesman.

PAL colleagues, parents and community members can purchase advance tickets for the event, which are now on sale for $25 per person or $80 for a family of four. Each ticket includes admission on all Pacific Park rides, one free meal voucher, one free game play, one free round of mini-golf and the choice of a popcorn or cotton candy.

All proceeds will go directly to the Santa Monica PAL, which will use the money to develop or maintain cultural, educational and recreational programs and projects at its local facility.

The Santa Monica PAL provides a safe and nurturing environment that offers youth the opportunity to grow under the sustained guidance of dedicated adults, said Patty Loggins-Tazi, director of the Santa Monica PAL. The organization supports and encourages youth to reach their fullest potential and pursue a better future, she said.

“PALpalooza has been a very successful local event over the past two years and we are excited for the opportunity to extend the day of fun to PAL kids from other chapters throughout the state,” said Loggins-Tazi.

California’s largest juvenile crime prevention program with more than 300,000 participating youth, CAL-PAL helps police and sheriff departments establish and develop PAL chapters in every community in California, police officials said.

Kids at this year’s event will be treated to the North American debut of Crazy Cruiser, which features a pair of bikes that whirl 360 degrees and has challengers pedaling fast and furious to the finish.

Crazy Cruiser racers experience accelerations of up to 2 g during the one-minute spinning contest on the uniquely designed single or two-person bikes that rise nearly 70 feet above the Pacific Ocean.

The game is one of the 21 family-style midway games at Pacific Park’s Pier Pressure Zone. Games range from Pirates’ Pier Mini Golf, X-treme Wave Jumper and Coastline Cat Rack to Surfside Skeeball, Pier Plank Plunge and Pacific Peak Climbing Wall.

“Pacific Park has far exceeded all expectations as a partner in the event and continues to provide valuable support for our PAL chapter and to the kids all year long,” said Loggins-Tazi.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (310) 458-8988 or in person at the Santa Monica PAL Youth Center at 1401 Olympic Blvd.