Build a Playground
Our Dream Playground

Our new step-by-step project planner offers the money and know-how to make your playground dreams come true.
Tools and Resources

Get funding, learn the nuts and bolts of building a great place to play, and improve your local playground.
Become a Community Partner

Build a great place to play for your community with the help of your neighbors, friends, KaBOOM! and our Funding Partners.
More:
- Volunteer opportunities — Fundraising ideas — Alumni Network — Fund a KaBOOM! build
Help
Take Action for Play
Save Play in Your Community

Get tips, ideas, and inspiration for making your community more playful.
Playful City USA

Our Playful City USA program recognizes cities and towns that embrace play as a priority.
KaBOOM! Community

Connect and share with other folks who are trying to bring play to their communities.
More:
- Host a Play Day — Earn badges for your actions — Volunteer for play
Help
The Map of Play
Playing Near You

Find, add, rate, and review playgrounds in your community.
Play Deserts

Where are playgrounds needed most and what happens when kids have nowhere to play?
- What is a Play Desert?
- How is the play deficit harming our children?
More:
- Get our mapping badge
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About KaBOOM!
What We Do

KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit dedicated to saving play for America’s children.
Who We Are

We are peppy, purple-adorned people who passionately promote the power of play!
Partner With Us

Our partners help us to create new playgrounds and to spread the word about the importance of PLAY.
More:
- Contact us — Jobs at KaBOOM! — Financial statements — Our founder's memoir
Help

Easy

How To Paint Asphalt Games

Bright games painted on a cement or asphalt surface are a welcome addition to any playground! Use the suggested patterns attached here, or think back to your own childhood to come up with possible games!

How To Paint a Basketball Court

Outdoor basketball courts weather a lot of wear and tear! Find one in your community that needs a little sprucing! Fresh paint can spark spirit and pride, and painting logos or mascots in center court encourages community identity!

How To Build a Butcher Block Bench

Adults and children appreciate having plenty of seating areas in and near their playspace. These benches will encourage adult supervision of children when placed in close proximity to the playground equipment.

How To Paint a Chessboard Tabletop

Chess and/or checkers is a game that can be played by people of all ages, and providing this opportunity will encourage youth, teens, adults, and seniors to frequent the playspace.

How To Create a Landmark Direction Post

Colorful direction posts can beautify your playspace and are great for pointing out landmarks selected by the community. If there are children present at the build day, you may want to enlist their help to choose the local landmarks and paint the signs.

How To Paint U.S. and World Maps

Adding a huge, colorful map brings color to the playspace and teaches geography to kids. Children will be amazed by this enormous map, and will be drawn to thinking about it and playing around it.

How To Make a Peace Pole

A Peace Pole is a monument that displays the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth,” usually in a different language on each side.

How To Build a Planter Bench

Adults and children appreciate having plenty of seating areas in and near their playspace. We've included instructions for a KaBOOM! favorite here, a combination bench /planter!

How To Build a Planter

Beauty will always enhance a playspace, because it draws people into a common area – and into an opportunity to socialize with fellow community members.

How To Create 1' x 1' Murals

This is a great project for kids! Each child is given a square piece of plywood to paint to beautify the play area. Finished squares can be fastened to a chain-link fence or drilled into wooden walls or fence posts.