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Groundbreaking Held For Hunting Park Health & Wellness Center

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A groundbreaking ceremony was held this afternoon for a Hunting Park health and wellness center scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

The 26,000 square foot Esperanza Health Center will be built on the lot where an abandoned warehouse one stood along North Sixth Street near Hunting Park Avenue.

Susan Post, the faith based organization's executive director, explains:

"There are many people in our community that do not have a medical provider. So we are going to add 8 to 10 doctors in the community. We are a Spanish speaking place so there are many people that either have problems with economics or understanding English and we try to break down those barriers."

A wellness facility is also being included so members of the community can gather together to socialize, exercise and even learn how to eat right.

"It will make it fun and interesting for people to get healthy," said Post.

It's a result of a 6.5 million dollar grant award by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funding.

Reported by John Mcdevitt, KYW Newsradio

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