February 28, 2011
NATION’S CITIES WEEKLY 5
KaBOOM! To Offer $2.1 Million in Grants to Cities
Through Playful City USA Program
In an effort to combat the Play Deficit
among children, KaBOOM! and Dr
Pepper Snapple group will award 103
grants totaling $2.1 million during the
next three years as part of the Playful
City USA program. The Playful City
USA grants are part of Let’s Play — a
community partnership led by Dr Pepper
Snapple Group to get kids active nation-
wide.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, only one in five
American children lives within walking
distance of a park or playground, result-
ing in a play deficit among children.
This play deficit is having disastrous
consequences for kids physically, as well
as mentally and socially. Children des-
perately need a place to play every day in
order to be active and healthy.
KaBOOM!, a national non-profit
dedicated to saving play, created the
Playful City USA program in 2007 to
help local governments address the Play
Deficit by ensuring their children have
the time and space they need to play and
to be active and healthy.
Playful City USA is a national recogni-
tion program honoring cities and towns
that make play a priority and use innova-
tive new programs to get children playing
outdoors more.
“Cities receiving Playful City USA rec-
ognition have always enjoyed the benefits
of identifying and sharing best practices,
inclusion in the national discussion about
the importance of play and local praise
for their dedication to children,” said
KaBOOM! CEO and co-founder Darell
Hammond. “In these difficult economic
times, KaBOOM! is thrilled to offer
grants to Playful City USA communi-
ties to help them create even more play
opportunities for their children and help
KaBOOM! save play.”
Despite budget deficits, Playful City
USA communities continue to dramati-
cally increase play opportunities for chil-
dren, using innovative best practices.
Cities including Orlando, St.
Petersburg, Fla., and Tucson, Ariz., have
significantly increased the quantity of
playspaces by developing joint-use agree-
ments with local school districts to open
school recreation facilities to the public
during non-school hours.
Top: Arlington, Texas, unveils its Playful City USA street sign. Bottom: A child-created Playful City
USA banner in Henderson, Nev.
local action plans to increase the quantity
and quality of play in their community.
In doing so, some of the most innova-
tive ideas and cost-effective programs
are being developed in Playful City USA
communities — proving that parks and
play are more important than ever.
Communities wishing to receive
grants and apply for Playful City USA
status must meet five core commitments
of the program:
• Create a local play commission
task force
• Design an annual action plan
for play
• Conduct a playspace audit of all
publicly accessible play areas
• Identify current spending on
capital projects and maintenance of play-
spaces
• Proclaim and celebrate an annu-
al “KaBOOM! Play Day”
Details: Cities and towns can apply to
become a Playful City USA community
by completing the application available
at www.kaboom.org/playfulcityusa. The
application deadline is June 1.
EPA Accepting Applications for Smart Growth Award
by Carolyn Berndt
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is now accepting appli-
cations for the 10th annual National
Award for Smart Growth Achievement.
Through this award, the EPA recognizes
and supports communities that have suc-
cessfully used smart growth principles to
improve communities environmentally,
socially and economically. Open to pub-
lic- and private-sector entities, winners
will be recognized at a ceremony in
Washington, D.C., in December. The
entry deadline is April 6.
Awards will be given for the following
four categories:
Programs, Policies, and Regulations:
This category recognizes regulatory and
policy initiatives that support the prin-
ciples of smart growth. EPA is particu-
larly interested in actions that remove
barriers to or provide incentives for smart
growth.
Smart Growth and Green Building:
This category recognizes development
that combines smart growth and green
building approaches as building design
and materials are integrated with land
use and location efficiency. Projects may
be single or multiple buildings.
Details: To view the application and
complete entry guidelines, visit www.epa.
gov/smartgrowth/ awards.htm#2011app.
For additional information, contact Ted
Cochin at cochin.ted@epa.gov or (202)
566-2181.
