Alumni Network

Outdoor Fitness Equipment

Exercise and physical activity is crucial not just for children’s well being, but for that of adults as well. By working with one of our preferred vendors you will be able to offer your community a chance to be active together. Learn how to apply >>

Imagination Playground in a Box

Imagination Playground is designed to prompt creativity and sensory exploration with a manipulable environment and “loose parts,” a changing array of elements that allow children to turn their playground into a space constantly built and re-built by their imagination. Free play enhances creative, open-ended interaction for a child’s cognitive, social, physical and emotional development. Learn how to apply >>

Shade

Play is crucial to the development and well being of a child and having a playground allows access to play. However, over the long hot summer months, a playground can often times become too hot for children to play safely. The Shade grant will give you a chance to work with one of our preferred vendors to install a shade structure over your playground cooling it significantly while providing protection from harmful UV rays. Learn how to apply >>

Burten, Bell, Carr Development takes their playground to the next level

Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc. did a build with Foresters in July of 2010 and since the build the playground has become the center of the community! KaBOOM! Alumni Brenda Metzger said that the build helped people realize that they are working to make the area better. Since the build the community has gotten a grant and are planning to install lights around the playground. She told KaBOOM!, "you have to keep up what you've got", so they're working on hiring someone to do maintenance and stay out on the playground with the kids. Brenda believes that you have to maintain so you don't have to rebuild, which is why it is so important to maintain a playground. She said the KaBOOM! playground was a fresh shot in the arm and the community is now moving forward.

West Hancock Elementary keeps the build day excitement going!

James Morgan, vice principal at West Hancock Elementary School of Picayune, Miss., helped to bring his community together to build a playground in November of 2008. Soon after, he secured an outdoor workout center for the students to use during PE class.

Determined to get adults moving and exercising, too, James then used his "solicitation skills" he honed during the playground project to start emailing and calling to get adult workout equipment donated to the school. Now the West Hancock staff has a full workout room filled with modern weight and cardio equipment! Teachers are using the equipment regularly and have created their own version of the "Bigger Loser" as a healthy competition. This movement is also getting everyone to eat healthier. The school has recently applied for a grant to get water and fruit for the students to eat throughout the day as healthy snacks.

James noticed another need for his school beyond the playground, and has started a healthy living movement! You can do the same in your community by using all the skills and resources you gained from your playspace project.