Palmer Park Community Center’s playground is the latest of more than 245 playgrounds in Prince George’s County getting revamped with the help of kid and community design input.
The playspace in Landover, Maryland, reopened this summer after children from the center shared drawings of their dream playspaces to incorporate into community-led design and installation.
KABOOM!, a national nonprofit organization with a mission of ensuring all children have a safe, high-quality place to play in their communities, partnered with Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, to make it happen.
Prince George’s County is among 25 communities chosen for a five-year initiative to address the playgrounds that were most underserved. More than a third of the county’s playgrounds are past their useful life and in need of immediate repair, according to a news release.
Oakcrest Community Center in Capitol Heights was the first to get a facelift back in the spring.
These updates will help ensure that “no child grows up lacking places to play and the rich developmental benefits needed to grow into their greatest potential,” says Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!, in the release.
Prince George’s County was the sixth area chosen for the initiative, and Baltimore was among the first five chosen.
KABOOM! has also assisted in other local playground projects, including the first and only playground open to the public in Washington D.C.’s St. Elizabeth neighborhood cluster.
Learn more about the 25 in 5 initiative at KABOOM!’s website.
