The City of Richmond received KaBOOM’s designation as a 2016
Playful City USA. This designation, the first of its kind for the city,
is the result of a partnership between the City’s Department of Parks,
Recreation and Community Facilities (PCRF), the Capital Region Collaborative,
and Active RVA - a program of Sports Backers. KaBOOM’s national recognition
program honors cities and towns across the country for making their cities more
playful.
“This recognition is a great accomplishment as we continue
to grow and highlight the abundant recreational opportunities available in
Richmond. Playability adds to the quality of life for all members of our
community, and especially families,” said Mayor Dwight C.
Jones.
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, Playful City USA is a
national recognition program that honors cities and towns across the country
for taking bold steps to ensure that children in their communities,
particularly kids from low income families, obtain the balanced and active play
they need to thrive. Cities and towns, along with leaders from every sector
working together, have the power to turn play spaces, and all spaces, into
transformative theaters of activity, inspiration, and discovery.
As one of KaBOOM’s corporate partners, this designation
brings the award home for Richmond’s CarMax. "We are proud to
partner with KaBOOM! and are excited that our hometown is receiving this
designation," said Craig Cronheim, president of The CarMax Foundation.
"We look forward to continuing to work with KaBOOM! to ensure that
all kids have a childhood filled with balance and active play, here in
Richmond, and across the country. "
The City of Richmond was chosen as a Playful City, USA
because of its dedication to a healthier community through its natural
resources, partnerships, and innovative programs. With assets such as the
James River Park System, PCRF’s CarMax Summer Basketball League, the ARCPark,
the Children’s Museum, and this weekend’s Dominion Riverrock festival,
Richmond’s opportunities for activity and play are better than ever.
“Play is far more than just entertainment and leisure. It’s
a fundamental component of a thriving community,” said Ashley Hall, Manager of
the Capital Region Collaborative. “In a playable environment, children’s
creative adventures on the playground create a foundation for classroom
learning. For adults and families, play creates connections, expands social
networks, and helps to build stronger and safer neighborhoods. We’re proud to
join the commitment to playability, which connects across our region’s eight
priority areas – from education and quality place, to the James River and
healthy communities.”
Active RVA’s Director, Jeff McIntyre, states “Active play is
crucial to the well-being of kids, families, and their communities. By
integrating play into cities, play provides a competitive advantage for cities
looking to attract and retain residents. We are proud of Richmond’s
designation as a Playful City USA and are committed to providing opportunities
for all members of the Richmond community to play and be more active.”
As a Playful City USA, Richmond will receive gateway road
signs, policy tools that leverage up-to-date city data and play space mapping
data, and access to grants that support increasing opportunities for play.
To learn more and see the full
list of communities named 2016 Playful City USA honorees, or to gather more
information on the Playful City USA program, visit www.playfulcityusa.org.
