Today, Let’s Play (an initiative by Dr Pepper Snapple Group), KaBOOM! and the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office announced the winners of Let’s Play Everywhere LA, a competition that awarded 10 grants totaling $200,000 to fund creative ideas that will transform everyday spaces into fun, safe places to play.
Several projects involve painting playful games and activities on the sidewalks of surrounding neighborhood schools and libraries, while others offer kid-friendly, interactive installations complete with fitness equipment and mobile gardens. One bus stop will feature permanent musical stations, while a historic neighborhood will become home to a 9-hole miniature golf course. These projects will provide stimulating experiences for more than 11,000 kids to play, learn, grow and just be kids across various neighborhoods in Los Angeles County, including Little Tokyo, Watts and Boyle Heights.
“All children deserve safe, fun places to play where they can be inspired to dream,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “With the support of Let’s Play Everywhere LA, the winners of this grant will use the power of creativity to awaken young Angelenos’ imaginations and promote healthy activity in our neighborhoods.”
Let’s Play Everywhere LA is the first city-wide initiative to award out-of-the-box solutions to make play a way of life in everyday and unexpected places – on sidewalks, in vacant lots, at bus stops, in open streets and beyond – especially in communities where families struggle to make ends meet.
“Let’s Play Everywhere LA will make play the easy choice for kids and families in their communities,” said James Siegal, CEO of KaBOOM!. “The winning projects offer more opportunities for families to ensure kids can get the play they need to thrive. With the support from Dr Pepper Snapple and the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, more kids across Los Angeles County will get the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play.”
The projects are making play more accessible for the kids of Los Angeles. Play is critical to the physical, cognitive, creative, social and emotional development of all kids, yet far too many are missing out on the chance to play, due to lack of playspaces at home, at school and in communities.
“We’re thrilled with the creativity the grant winners have brought to these projects,” said Vicki Draughn, vice president – corporate affairs for Dr Pepper Snapple. “A place to play can be so many more places than we ever imagined and we can’t wait to see these ideas come to life.”
- Contact
- Dr Pepper Snapple Group: Karen Kramer, 972-408-7023, [email protected]
- KaBOOM!: Caroline Finnell, 202-464-6164, [email protected]