The children of Union City and Washington, D.C. have good reason to celebrate after the Falcons, Georgia Power, nonprofit KaBOOM!, Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation (MSEF), and The Children’s Guild DC joined forces to create new play spaces in their respective communities. As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, the Atlanta Falcons and partners unveiled a playground designed by young minds in Union City, a stone's throw away from the local ballfield and skate park off U.S. 29 at Dixie Lake Road. Bringing life to children's designs, another hub of activity is slated to pop up in Stone Mountain later this autumn.
Over in the nation's capital, Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation cut the ribbon on a vibrant, newly-constructed playspace at The Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School. The school, which caters to over 250 students, can now boast of a facility that encourages active play and social interaction, featuring elements born directly from the imagination of its students. Together with D.C. athletes and volunteers, they built the playground in a single, commendable day.
The new playground provides more than just an area for students to play—it represents a commitment to the physical, social, and emotional growth of the children, Jenny Livelli, CEO and President of The Children’s Guild, explained to Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation. Aligning with the broader goal of playspace equity, the play area stands as one of 13 such projects since MSEF and KABOOM!'s partnership began in 2011.
Zach Leonsis, President of Media & New Enterprises at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, captured the spirit of these initiatives, "Through our long-standing partnership with KABOOM!, we've been able to create safe, joyful spaces where kids can play, grow, and dream big." He told Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation about their ongoing commitment to using the power of sports to build a more connected community.
MSEF's project also highlighted local involvement, with a mural by D.C. artist Hiba Alyawer and contributions from Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc., which provided on-site beverages and extra hands to make the build day a success. Not to mention, they've been a continual supporter of MSE and KABOOM!'s initiatives, giving students more reasons to look forward to school each day with a fun and engaging play area to enjoy.
KABOOM! for its part continues to drive its "25 in 5" initiative forward, aiming to combat playspace inequity and afford every American child a safe and amazing place to play. As Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!, explained, "Playgrounds are an iconic part of childhood where kids collect some of their best memories," a sentiment that is echoed in their partnered efforts to deliver new play spaces nationwide, as reported by Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation.
