Earlier this year, something extraordinary happened in the heart of Eatonville, Florida that brought together a historic town, a passionate community, and more than 150 volunteers committed to leaving a lasting impact for the next generation of Eatonville’s kids, who will become our future leaders. Together with community volunteers and DaVita, we built a new playground for the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida’s Eatonville community at the Joe R. Lee Branch. What was constructed over those few days isn’t just a place for children to play, it is a testament to Eatonville’s legacy, a symbol of hope, and a space of belonging.
Founded on August 15, 1887, by freed slaves—including Joseph B. Clark, the great-great-great uncle of the Joe R. Lee Branch’s service director, Shadrick Alexander—Eatonville is the oldest self-governing Black municipality in the United States and known as “The Town That Freedom Built.” Despite resistance from nearby white landowners, Clark and others persisted, purchasing land to create a self-governed town rooted in dignity, opportunity, and self-determination.
Eatonville is historic. It represents legacy and pride. There’s greatness that comes from Eatonville. Zora Neale Hurston wrote about us. Deacon Jones went on to play football in the NFL. Norm Lewis graced Broadway stages. Our streets tell their stories, and our people continue to shape history.
– Shadrick Alexander
Yet, Eatonville’s legacy faces threats from land disputes to gentrification. As Shadrick, affectionately known as Shaggy, explained, “One of our greatest fears is that our children won’t know the significance of what Eatonville represents. We don’t want to be reduced to a plaque that says, ‘This is what used to be here.’ We want our children to live and grow our legacy, not just learn about what once was.”
This is why it was so special for all of us to come together to create a space for Eatonville’s kids to learn, grow, and thrive—a space where they can feel safe and imagine the endless possibilities of their futures. The old playground at the Joe R. Lee Branch had been torn down and turned into green space, but community members saw potential in the green space and shared a vision to turn it into something joyful and dynamic for the kids.
“Playgrounds are more than just swings and slides. They’re where kids learn to communicate, to play, to be social. It could be their first scraped knee or their first best friend, but lifelong memories are made on the playground,” said Shaggy.
The experience of building a playground for the kids was deeply personal for him. “I didn’t have a Boys & Girls Club growing up in Eatonville. We had playgrounds, but they weren’t in good condition. I remember writing to the mayor as a kid, asking for something better. That letter gave me a voice. This playground build gave our kids a voice, too. And now, they get to see their ideas come to life. Seeing kids design this playground by drawing pictures of what they wanted and then saying, ‘I picked that out!’ That’s the joy we wanted to give them.”
For DaVita, a comprehensive kidney care provider grounded in advancing whole-person health outcomes, this project embodied everything they were looking for: promoting well-being, long-term community impact, and a collaboration rooted in authenticity. More than 100 DaVita teammates flew in from across the country to join local volunteers in building a playground amongst the Eatonville community.
“This experience was hands down the most extraordinary of my over thirteen years with DaVita,” said one DaVita teammate. “Thank you all for filling my cup and my heart.”
DaVita describes their organization as a “Community First, Company Second,” meaning they care for their community as deeply as they care for their patients. This guiding principle reflects a culture where compassion and service are not just values, they are the foundation of how DaVita operates.
Liz Gardner, Executive Director of the DaVita Giving Foundation, described why this community stood out. “When we learned about Eatonville and the deep history, the legacy of Shaggy’s family, and the uniqueness of this place, we knew immediately that this is where the playground needed to be. KABOOM! helped us channel our energy into something lasting for the kids and their community. When we watched the kids walk up the path and see what they had dreamed up come to life—that’s the kind of impact that stays with you forever.”
With more than 100 kids attending the Joe R. Lee Branch daily—and many more families in the surrounding area—the new play space is already making a difference.
“The kids are eager, the parents are grateful, and now families will have a place to gather,” said Shaggy. “For many of our families, getting to a grocery store or gas station is a challenge. Having something right here that brings joy to our kids without needing to leave our community, it means everything.”
The long-term economic and social ripple effects are clear. Studies show that every $1 invested in Boys & Girls Clubs returns $12 in economic impact. That’s millions in community benefit, and it starts with safe places to play.
“This isn’t just a playground,” said Liz. “This is a place where a child might take their first steps toward greatness, just like the legends that Eatonville has produced. It’s about honoring what’s been built here and investing in what’s to come.”
As we celebrate the joy of this new playground, we also celebrate Eatonville, a town that has never stopped believing in its own greatness. And with partners like DaVita and the Boys & Girls Club working together, that greatness will continue to grow.
“Eatonville represents love, hope, opportunity, and history,” said Shaggy. “We want every child here to know you are already great. And this playground is just the beginning.”
