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For Immediate Release: June 15, 2007 |
Cheryl Donahue |
Come Play on the Freeway: The Finale!
The completion of State Route 210 in Rialto and San Bernardino is right around the corner, and community members are invited to “Come Play on the Freeway: The Finale!” on June 23.
“This is your chance to get a sneak peek of this brand new freeway before it opens to drivers,” said Tony Grasso, executive director of San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG), which has teamed up with Caltrans to build the final 7.25-mile section of freeway that will connect to Route 30 in San Bernardino. “We’re excited that this last stretch of freeway is nearly complete, and we want the community to celebrate with us.”
Hosted by SANBAG, Caltrans, the County of San Bernardino and the cities of Rialto and San Bernardino, this family-friendly event will be held right on the new freeway lanes, which will open to drivers during the second half of 2007.
“The completion of Route 210 will greatly improve mobility in our communities and will allow for economic enhancement along the corridor,” said Dennis Hansberger, president of SANBAG.
“Come Play on the Freeway: The Finale!” will feature 5K and 10K runs and walks, 5-mile and 10-mile bike rides, a classic car show (1973 vehicles and older, plus any year Corvettes), a formal ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony, music, food and concession booths, a skateboarding demonstration, rock-climbing wall and plenty of other fun.
The 10K run/walk is named in honor of Gary Moon, SANBAG’s director of freeway construction from 1990 to 2003. Moon was involved in the planning, funding and day-to-day construction of Route 210 until his retirement in 2003. He died in 2005 after a short battle with cancer.
The 5K events are named in memory of Marilyn Cardosi, long-time public information officer for the Rialto Unified School District and community volunteer. She was instrumental in communicating detours and construction details to school staff and families. She also succumbed to cancer, in 2006.
The ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. A full roster of elected and transportation officials is scheduled to speak, including Caltrans statewide Director Will Kempton, Congressman Joe Baca, Senators Gloria Negrete-McLeod, Bob Dutton and Alan Lowenthal, Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter, Supervisors Dennis Hansberger and Josie Gonzales, Rialto Mayor Grace Vargas, San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris and former Assemblyman John Longville. The freeway will be dedicated in memory of the late Congressman George E. Brown, Jr., who is the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives or Senate in California’s history. A sign designating the stretch of freeway east of Interstate 15 as the “George E. Brown, Jr. Memorial Highway will be unveiled during the ceremony.
Check-in for the athletic events and car show will start at 7 a.m., and all activities will conclude by 1 p.m. Visitors will enter the freeway at the Riverside Avenue and Ayala Drive on-ramps in Rialto and park on the south side of the freeway. Activities will occur east of the Riverside Avenue bridge and extend east to San Bernardino.
Participation in the runs, walks, bike rides and car show requires registration and an entry fee. Same-day registration will be permitted. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Rialto and San Bernardino. Registration forms are available online at www.playonthe210.org