As our communities emerge from a year of isolation, Park on the Move supports kids re-engaging through sport and play.
Playworks celebrates year one of three in partnering with Park on the Move, a mobile program to bring a unique play experience to youth in neighborhoods who have limited access to park and recreation space.
On the Friday before Super Bowl LVI, the Super Bowl Host Committee gathered at a Playworks partner school in Lennox, CA to announce the grant recipients for the Super Bowl LVI Legacy Program – Park on the Move. Alongside LA84 Foundation, Play Equity Fund, and County of Los Angeles Department of Parks & Recreation, Playworks Southern California committed to three summers in playing a vital role towards closing the play equity gap* and ensuring all kids have access to play within Los Angeles County neighborhoods.
In June, our Playworks Southern CA team went straight to play in communities with limited access to safe and healthy play. Our team helped transform spaces at schools, libraries, and church parking lots into a playground wonderland. In addition to our regular programming, Park on the Move brought the power of play directly into communities by engaging parents alongside their kids. Parents were able to see how play can positively impact their child’s development and be a tool for lifelong learning. Kids were empowered to continue playing on their own without the need for specific equipment or play spaces; the only limit is their imagination!
Parent Jaden Rayas shared what they learned from their experience at Park on the Move event this summer:
“Enjoying all kinds of sports and play helps us to be healthy in our body and mind.”
Parents, caregivers, and youth development professionals also had the opportunity to take part in our hands-on “Power of Play” play zone to learn the importance of play and the foundation for creating a safe, healthy, respectful and inclusive play environment for youth.
Together with our partners in play we brought joy and increased positive social and emotional learning to kids all summer long, reaching over 400 kids and over 230 parents, caregivers, and youth development professionals. As our education landscape continues to change, emerging from a year of isolation, kids and families within these under-resourced communities have been disproportionately impacted and need program partnerships like Park on the Move more than ever to support their emotional well-being. It is our goal to continue to re-engage all youth through sport and play to support skill development and community building through unique play experiences. We are dedicated to continuing to partner with like-minded organizations and philanthropic partners in programs like Park on the Move. Together for the next two years we are closer towards closing the play equity gap and succeed in bringing more kids and their families, no matter where they live, the opportunity to play and contribute to their communities.
*The play equity is the belief that all kids deserve equal access to youth sports & play opportunities and the benefits they provide.
