O'Fallon Announces Partnership with HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital to Promote Health and Wellness Activities with O'Fallon Parks and Recreation

"In 2017, O’Fallon is poised to have an influx of over 250,000 visitors as the new $300 million state-of-the-art HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital opens,” said Mayor Graham. "This new public/private partnership will provide vital help to our parks system in their work to improve the quality of life for all residents.”

Graham was joined by Peggy Sebastian, HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital President and CEO, to announce the five-year partnership.

“The Family Sports Park and the wellness opportunities offered by the city is an integral reason why we built our new hospital in O’Fallon,” said Sebastian. “Through our partnership with the city parks, St. Elizabeth’s hopes to promote healthy activities and programming that centers on building strong bodies and minds beginning with our youth and continuing throughout our lives.”

A portion of the funds will be used to support the O’Fallon Mighty Ball Soccer and Baseball Leagues, which teach the basic skills of both sports to over 1,500 three to five year-old athletes each year.  Funds will also be used to improve and maintain the walking/running path at the Family Sports Park, which has over 500,000 visitors annually.  In addition, the funding will be used to support the more than 600 plus programs, sports leagues and camps the O’Fallon Parks and Recreation Department offers each year.

“As we begin construction of the new all weather soccer and baseball fields as part of Destination O’Fallon this spring, this partnership with St. Elizabeth’s will ensure that we can continue to provide a one of a kind experience at the O’Fallon Family Sports Park for our residents and attract more revenue generating tournaments,” said Graham.

St. Elizabeth’s will also become the official Mobile Sports Medicine Provider during soccer tournaments held at the Family Sports Park to provide onsite care for injuries.  Currently, there are 29 tournaments scheduled for 2017.

Tournaments held at the O’Fallon Family Sports Park currently generate $5.1 million in economic impact to the City of O’Fallon.  Once the fields are completed, it is estimated that the economic impact will be over $10 million annually.

“As we move to the City of O’Fallon later this year, we want to become an active partner with the City to not only provide exceptional health care but also to become part of the fabric of all activities related to health and wellness in O’Fallon,” said Sebastian.

The St. Elizabeth’s partnership is part of the new Partners in the Park program that the O’Fallon Parks and Recreation Department launched in December to engage community businesses and organizations to help provide non tax revenue to support the maintenance and program expansion of the growing parks system.

“Having partners like St. Elizabeth’s work with our parks not only helps promote new initiatives, but also helps to keep operating costs covered as we expand our park system,” said Graham.

Interested businesses who would like to become a partner by advertising or sponsoring attractions in the O’Fallon Parks can contact 618.772.3241.

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Additional Information Contact:

Pamala L. Funk

Asst. City Administrator

624-4500, ext. 8731