Parks are popping up all over Jackson County thanks in part to KaBOOM!, a national organization dedicated to creating safe play spaces for children.

Shortly after Hurricane Katrina, KaBOOM! came to the Coast and made a commitment to build 100 playgrounds during the next two years. Already KaBOOM! is ahead of the curve, having completed 40 along the Coast. Four of those playgrounds are in Pascagoula and Moss Point and the organization recently held a design day with Gautier children and parents, the first step in building a new playground in Hickory Hill.

Perhaps one of the most amazing things about KaBOOM!'s approach to building playgrounds is how the organization involves the community from the design phase to the building phase.