The City of Atlanta Wins ‘Playful City USA’ Designation from KaBOOM! for the Fifth Consecutive Year
ATLANTA --- For the fifth consecutive year, KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to creating more spaces for America’s children to play, has named the City of Atlanta a Playful City USA community.
The City of Atlanta was named one of 151 communities across the country dedicated to creating innovative play-spaces that improve the lives of the city’s youth and the neighborhoods in which they live. KaBOOM! selected the City of Atlanta and other cities across the nation who put their children’s well-being first by recognition and harnessing the power of play.
“The City of Atlanta is extremely proud to be named ‘Playful City USA’ for the fifth consecutive year,” Mayor Reed said. “Atlanta will continue to lead the way in offering physical alternatives and recreational activities for improving the lives of our children. Creating environments for young people to be happier, healthier and smarter continues to be a top priority of my Administration.”
Atlanta is one of only 19 Playful City USA communities that received recognition for the fifth consecutive year.
“Being honored is a great testament to the people and communities that are dedicated to improving the quality of lives for our children,” said Atlanta Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Commissioner George Dusenbury. “Receiving this recognition for five straight years indicates our commitment to providing and maintaining vibrant and inviting play-spaces that will encourage children’s physical activity.”
The city of Atlanta earned the Playful City USA, in part, due to the strategic partnership with a local non-profit the Atlanta Taskforce on Play and corporate sponsors. Atlanta recently installed its first NEO 360 Play System and a 17-foot tall Hexagonal Cable Climber, the tallest climber in any Atlanta park. Located at Cleopus R. Johnson Park, the NEO 360 Play System builds peripheral vision, auditory and spatial awareness skills through electronic games while delivering an awesome workout.
"KaBoom!'s recognition of the work the City of Atlanta has done on behalf of children and play is a great honor. As more and more people understand the importance of play in a child's health and happiness, Atlanta will become a truly great city to raise a family," said Atlanta Taskforce on Play Founding Director Cynthia Gentry.
To celebrate its 2011 Playful City USA designation with a play day weekend, the City of Atlanta offers the following events that are free and open to the public:
September 24 – Celebrate National Public Lands Day at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site on Auburn Avenue from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Volunteer activities are planned to restore the historic houses adjacent to Dr. King’s birth home. The NPLD will support the First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move Outside” initiative. Families and youth will participate in hands-on activities to close out the day’s festivities.
September 24 – The community is invited to the Movies in the Park event scheduled at West Manor Park. The motion picture Thor with Oscar winning actor Anthony Hopkins will be shown at dusk. The event is hosted by Atlanta City Councilmember Lamar Willis. The park is located at 3240 W. Manor Circle at Benjamin E. Mays Dr., Atlanta.
September 25 – Join Atlanta City Councilmember Carla Smith, city officials and the Atlanta Silverbacks for an afternoon of fun at the Grand Opening of a new Atlanta BeltLine Park, Boulevard Crossing Park. The festivities will kick off at 2:00 p.m. The park is located at 500 Englewood Avenue, Atlanta.
Atlanta Taskforce on Play (ATOP):
The Atlanta Taskforce on Play is committed to making great play opportunities accessible to every child in Atlanta. It is the co-organizer (with Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture) of Playable10 International Design Competition. Playable10 is attracting talented designers from around the world to design a playground for Woodruff Park, a master plan for play for the Atlanta BeltLine, and Do-It-Yourself instruction manuals for innovative community built backyard playspaces. www.PlayAtlanta.org and www.PlayableDesign.org
KaBOOM! the national non-profit organization dedicated to saving play, created Playful City USA in 2007 to help local governments address the Play Deficit by ensuring their children have the time and space they need to play.
