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
Help
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

Side Projects

Community-built playspaces aren't just for kids! A few simple additions to the area around your playspace — like benches, shade structures, and murals — will transform it into an inviting community space. Learn more about how to plan your play environment.

These step-by-step instructions include shopping lists, skill level, and even a recommended number of volunteers!

Get some cash to spruce up your playground!

Attention all playground owners! Thanks to generous support from Dr Pepper Snapple Group, KaBOOM! will be awarding grants of $750 each to communities this year who wish to make their playgrounds cleaner, safer and more inviting. The Let's Play Maintenance Grants are designed to reward communities that have maintained and "spruced" their playspaces since their playground build.

Benefits

$750 gift card to communities to further enhance or improve their playspace

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

This grant is open to communities and organizations within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands that meet the following requirements:

Submit a completed application by a priority deadline
Must have a record of playground in the KaBOOM! Map of Play
Must have a well-maintained playground or plan to refill the Engineered Wood Fiber
Must have completed a playground spruce project in the last 6 months or plan to refill the Engineered Wood Fiber in the next 60 days
Must be able to sign off on the following liability language:

The Grantee undertakes the project supported by the Grant funds on its own behalf and not on behalf of KaBOOM! or DPS, and the Grant shall in no way be construed as creating the relationship of principal and agent, of partnership or of joint venture as between KaBOOM! or DPS and the Grantee or any other person involved in the project. By accepting the Grant, the Grantee acknowledges that neither KaBOOM! nor DPS nor their respective subsidiaries and affiliates, and their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable for any acts, omissions, errors, injuries or damages, whether direct, indirect, incidental or consequential, associated with the use of the Grant funds or the Grant sponsored project.

Selection criteria:

Only applicants who have submitted complete applications and demonstrate they meet the eligibility requirements will be considered. Key criteria used in the selection process include:

Demonstrated diligence in maintaining playground
Documented spruce project at playground or plan for refilling the Engineered Wood Fiber
Registered playground in KaBOOM! Map of Play
Has not previously received a Let's Play Spruce Grant

How to Apply

To be considered, applicants must complete the application no later than January 6, 2012. Click here to download the Let's Play Maintenance Grants Application.

If you have any questions about the Spruce grant application, please email Mila Liachenko, Grants and Alumni Network Manager, at mliachenko@kaboom.org.