The KABOOM! 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity is our five-year, $250 million plan to end playspace inequity in 25 places, accelerating our efforts towards achieving our mission of ending playspace inequity for good across the United States.
Our Bold Goal: End playspace inequity in 25 places in 5 years
Playspace inequity is a problem with deep roots, but it is solvable and more urgent now than ever given the critical needs of children today. Over the next five years, we will collaborate across sectors to raise $250 million and identify 25 different places across the country to achieve equitable access to quality playspaces. With our Playce Partners, we are uniting with communities to end playspace inequity at the scale it exists, ensuring that every child can experience the critical developmental benefits of having quality places to play.
70-80%
70-80% of BIPOC census tracts lacked access to recreational facilities vs. 38% of predominantly white census tracts (National Institutes of Health)
5x
Parks in majority non-white neighborhoods are half as large and nearly 5x more crowded than parks that serve a majority white population. (Trust for Public Land)
KABOOM! will work with Playce Partners to map and assess the quality of existing playspaces and issue a public report detailing investments and actions needed to end playspace inequity across the identified public system or network.
Based on the inequities identified in the assessment phase, we will create an action plan using mapping and demographic data to prioritize thoughtful, community-designed implementation – including building playspaces together – to address where our collective impact is most needed.
Throughout our partnership, we will conduct ongoing evaluations that focus on measuring impact and advancing the best practices to improve playspace access and quality overtime, as well as the effect of playspaces on childhood outcomes related to well-being, learning, and resiliency.
There are many ways to support the 25 in 5 Initiative to help create systemic change for kids and communities across the country.
Become a Playce Partner
We are building a coalition of 25 municipal agencies (school districts, parks and recreation departments, housing systems, etc.) and networks of nonprofit partners who are committed to addressing the urgent needs of kids.
Invest in the 25 in 5 Initiative
Your investment in KABOOM! can help us reach our goal to end playspace inequity.
Become a Strategic Partner
Our peer organizations strategically align with us in a variety of ways to improve child and community outcomes. Work with us to leverage our collective resources to accelerate efforts to end playspace inequity across the country.
Achieving playspace equity across Baltimore will send the message that we believe in our youth and know they’re capable of the brightest possible future. Playgrounds profoundly impact our young people: they’re a place to sharpen skills that will serve them for a lifetime, build friendships, and feel a sense of belonging. In line with my administration’s mission to prioritize youth, we want every young person across the city to be able to step onto a brand-new playground that they designed and their community built just for them so they can understand that they matter and that their community leaders see them and recognize their needs.”
Baltimore Mayor, Brandon M. Scott
Baltimore is the first official partner of the 25 in 5 Initiative. Learn more about our work together to end playspace inequity.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, and Baltimore City Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises joined KABOOM! at Park Heights Academy to hear from kids and discuss the important role playspaces have in supporting the mental health of children.
Read More
KABOOM! CEO Lysa Ratliff was featured alongside Mayor Brandon Scott, and leaders from Baltimore City Recreation and Parks and Baltimore City Public Schools to highlight how we are partnering through the 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity.
Learn More
We are pleased to announce our partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools and Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, with the support of the Office of the Mayor. Together will work to ensure every child has a place to play where they live and learn.
Together with a community of families, educators, and administrators, KABOOM! and Baltimore City Public Schools undertook an assessment of the school system's playspaces. This report identifies where there is the greatest need for playspaces across the city.
We have a proud history of partnering with communities and city leaders in Baltimore and have built or improved over 60 playspaces! Here are a few stories of the ways we've worked to end playspace inequity in Baltimore.