Tempe selected as a “Playful City USA” community

Go Play! Tempe selected as a “Playful City USA” community

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tempe has been named a Playful City USA community by KaBOOM!, a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting play in children’s lives. In the third year of this annual program, KaBOOM! awarded the title to 93 communities across the country, including Tempe, a first-time applicant. Tempe was chosen as a Playful City USA because of its initiatives to increase the quantity and quality of play and playgrounds while improving access to existing play opportunities, and for creating and implementing programs to positively impact childhood wellness, public safety and quality of life.

According to a 2009 Harris Interactive Poll, 82 percent of parents believe children don’t spend enough time playing outside. In partnership with KaBOOM!, Tempe hopes to reverse this trend by continuing to provide quality parks and affordable recreation programs and by fostering partnerships with Tempe’s school districts to create even more chances for children to play.

“Tempeans have long worked together to ensure that our city is a vibrant, diverse and truly sustainable community, now and in the future. Winning a Playful City USA designation is such a great validation of those efforts,” said Mayor Hugh Hallman. “Every member of our community – the young and the young at heart – can share in the benefits of healthy play, including 170 miles of bikeways and walking paths. Our 48 public parks are linked by an integrated, holistic transportation system that is accessible to everyone. You can find great places to play 365 days a year, all across Tempe.”

KaBOOM!’s vision is a great place to play within walking distance of every child. Playful City USA communities create best practices to reach a similar goal. They serve as role models for other communities and prove that enhancing children’s well-being by increasing the opportunity for play is an attainable goal for every community.

“Our country is facing two monumental deficits: a lack of unstructured play among children and a lack of resources to address this very issue,” said Darell Hammond, KaBOOM! CEO and Co-founder. “Tempe took a stand and determined that the future of their community – their children – deserve a commitment to the cause of play.”

In keeping with its title of Playful City USA, Tempe will host a Play Day on Saturday, September 19, 2009, so that Tempeans of all ages can celebrate play together and reap the benefits of being active. The free event will be held from 8-11 a.m. at Kiwanis Park, Mill Avenue and All-America Way, and will feature structured and unstructured games, races and events for all ages. More information on Play Day will become available as the event nears.

Visit http://www.kaboom.org/ for more information on Playful City USA, or call Tempe Parks and Recreation at 480-350-5200.

2009 Playful City USA Communities by State:
12: Florida
9: Arizona, California
6: Texas
5: North Carolina
4: Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland
3: Illinois, Ohio, Washington
2: Alabama, Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wyoming
1: Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina

About KaBOOM!:
KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since 1995, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct more than 1,600 new playgrounds, skateparks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including an online community, free online trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, which includes Playful City USA and Playmakers – a national network of individual advocates for play. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.

Source: City of Mesa

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