KaBOOM!, the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play, and the Built to Play initiative, supported by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, have announced new winners of the second Play Everywhere Challenge these partners have led together. The Challenge awards a total of $1 million for 22 projects across Western New York and Southeast Michigan to create landmark playspaces that provide kids with equitable opportunities to play.
The Play Everywhere Challenge invites communities to submit creative design ideas that make it easier for families to incorporate play into everyday moments. Selected projects will bring play into public spaces in unconventional ways – such as implementing swings at bus stops or play zones at laundromats.
Examples of playful projects coming to this region include:
Growing Roots Through Play
Monroe County, Foodlink, Inc. – Lexington Avenue Community Farm
This project will create a play area in an empty half-acre lot in Rochester that sits between Foodlink’s Lexington Avenue Community Farm and the surrounding neighborhood. Featuring log and boulder-based climbers and steps, labyrinths, public art and wayfinding features, the space will support community gatherings and serve an estimated 500 kids annually.
PlayROCs: Interactive Rochester Signs
Rochester, Healthi Kids Coalition of Common Ground Health
Using signs and playful sidewalks to activate areas of downtown Rochester, this project aims to direct people to local attractions and provide residents with spontaneous opportunities for play. These will include: a climbable “I Heart Rochester” sign, hop, skip and jump opportunities and a play map. The project will serve an estimated 271,000 kids annually.
all You can be
Medina, GLOW YMCA
This project will transform several sidewalks and a bus stop area outside GLOW YMCA into a vibrant playspace. This 2D, training camp-inspired obstacle course will utilize in-ground trampolines to provide an estimated 845 kids annually with opportunities to be active and socialize.
Play Me a Tune Music Garden
Genesse County, Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council
This space, situated in an alleyway along an existing art trail, will feature more than a dozen interactive musical instruments, sidewalk lights and a musical-themed mural. The project will expose families to arts and culture and create opportunities for after-school programming. The Music Garden will serve an estimated 860 kids annually.
The Built to Play initiative answers a need identified through the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s work with the Aspen Institute Sports and Society Program on each region’s “State of Play” assessment, and through research conducted by KaBOOM!, which shows that while play is an essential factor in childhood development, there are far too many kids who lack opportunities for great, safe spaces to play – especially in rural and low-income neighborhoods.
“Play is an essential part of childhood, but kids are too often denied the benefits of play. Play is an equity issue, and the opportunity to play should not be determined by zip code, socio-economic status or race,” said James Siegal, CEO of KaBOOM!. “The Play Everywhere Challenge helps address this critical need, and we thank the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation for their commitment to ensuring every kid can experience the joy of a play-filled childhood.”
The projects implemented through the Play Everywhere Challenge will help families make play the easy choice and support kids in getting the physical activity they need to thrive.
“The creative projects that make up this round of the Play Everywhere Challenge are remarkable,” said Jim Boyle, vice president of programs & communications, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “We’re proud that this program helps provide kids and families with more high-quality options for the active play necessary to develop and thrive.”
Through the Play Everywhere Challenge and the creation of playspaces starting this summer, the Built to Play initiative will create 22 new playspaces that reach thousands of kids in Western New York and Southeast Michigan.
For information, visit www.rwbuilttoplay.org/.
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