The City of Atlanta Wins its Second Playful City USA Award

The City of Atlanta has won the Playful City USA Award from KaBOOM for the second year in a row! The City of Atlanta Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the Atlanta Task Force on Play (ATOP) are being recognized for creating an agenda on play and demonstrating a commitment to healthy development of children. The award is presented annually to cities throughout the US who demonstrate a commitment in providing quality play areas for children.

Playful City USA is a national recognition program that honors cities and towns across the nation who put their children’s well-being first by recognizing and harnessing the power of play. KaBOOM! and qubo, the television and online service for children, announced the list of 2008 Playful City USA communities and will support the initiative with an extensive marketing campaign.

“Winning The Playful City USA twice is an incredible accomplishment for the City of Atlanta.” says Dianne Harnell Cohen, Commissioner, City of Atlanta Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. “We have a great partnership with ATOP and together we are committed to the developing playful programs that will continue enhance the quality of life of residents.”

This is the second year of the annual program sponsored by KaBOOM! and The City of Atlanta ranked first out of 67 Playful City USA communities this year. The project was initiated by ATOP, chaired by Cynthia Gentry. ATOP has developed several creative ideas to provide children and their families with the opportunity to play. ATOP and the City of Atlanta Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs will host the first Great Atlanta PLAY DAY and Backyard Campout (on 9.27.08); and holding the WooHoo! Play Video Award Show. The Great Atlanta Play Day will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2008.

“We’re thrilled to be named Playful City USA for the second year in a row. Atlanta is working hard to be the best city anywhere to raise children,” says Cynthia Gentry. “An important part of this is having fun, safe and creative places for our children to play.”

The Atlanta Taskforce on Play expects to have art and tree-filled play space near every child in the City by the end of 2010, will develop and train new community groups and forge additional partnerships in their efforts. For more information on the first annual Great Atlanta Play Day visit www.playatlanta.org

Since 1995, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct more than 1,300 new playgrounds, skateparks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including an online community, regional and national trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, which includes Playful City USA and the Playmaker Network – a national network of individual advocates for play.
---
www.FayetteFrontPage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
---