Families, Parks and Recreation
Press
Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Heather Allebaugh
407.246.3423
Victoria Shade
407.246.4318
Mike Vietti, KaBOOM!, 202.464.6076 or 202.327.0086
Go Play! Non-Profit
Organization KaBOOM! Names the City of Orlando One of 93
“Playful City USA” Communities
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WHAT: |
For the second year in a row, the City of
Orlando has been designated a Playful City USA
community. In a time when many parents believe
children don’t spend enough time playing
outside, the City is one of 93 communities
across the nation that have taken innovative
approaches to make play a priority for the
health and well-being of their kids. KaBOOM!, a
national non-profit dedicated to bringing play
back into children’s lives, is in its third year
of honoring cities making a commitment to play
by granting them this designation.
Creating initiatives designed to increase the
quantity and quality of play and playgrounds,
while improving access to existing play
opportunities are determining standards in
selecting the top communities. The City of
Orlando was selected in part for convening a
committee of interested people to determine the
next steps the City should take to best serve
its citizen’s recreation needs. The committee
determined that the standards for recreation
needed to be reviewed and hired a consultant to
develop a strategic master plan for parks and
recreation resources. The condition of the
parks, playground and community centers
demographics, trends, and funding sources are
being evaluated, while a plan for improvement is
being developed. The City of Orlando expects an
increase in services, revenue and programming as
a result of the findings.
Playful City
USA celebrates and highlights unique initiatives
developed by communities across the country. A
primary goal of Playful City USA is to encourage
cities and towns to share creative ideas,
concepts and programs in an effort to increase
play opportunities for children.
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WHO: |
City of Orlando
Playful City USA
KaBOOM!
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