Apply for a KaBOOM! playground today!

KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in North America. KaBOOM! brings together parents, community leaders and corporate partners to facilitate the planning and design of new community playspaces. Our goal is to not only to build a new playspace but also to use the project to strengthen existing support networks and build new community relationships.  

We currently have Funding Partners that will cover the majority of the funding as well as provide volunteers to help build a playground in Edmonton in June 2012.  We are working to identify nonprofit, child-serving organizations that would benefit from and embrace the process of a community-built playspace partnership. 

An organization must meet the following criteria to qualify:  

Ø  Serve a low-income/high-need community

Ø  Have no playground or need to replace an existing playground

Ø  Work with KaBOOM! project management and your community to fundraise US$8,500 towards the cost of equipment. We offer online webinars (www.kaboom.org/webinars) to assist with fundraising ideas.

Ø  Provide at least 2,500 sq. feet in available land and complete any needed site preparation (i.e., removing old equipment, asphalt, grading the land).

Ø  Provide additional in-kind responsibilities such as breakfast and lunch for Build Day, tools, restroom facilities, and a dumpster.

Ø  Recruit 70-90 volunteers for Build Day and recruit parents who are excited about serving on planning committees for an 8-10 week period leading up to Build Day.

Ø  Accept ownership and maintenance responsibilities for the playspace upon completion.  

In return, your organization will:

Ø  Receive a new custom-designed playground!

Ø  Establish an ongoing relationship with a Funding Partner throughout the planning process and for years after who is interested in having an impact on your community.

Ø  Bring community members together as they work toward this common goal.

Ø  Participate in a planning process that will teach you about fundraising, community building, media relations, etc. that can be used during future community projects.

The approximate 8-10 week planning process kicks off with a Design Day where children literally design their dream playgrounds, and culminates on Build Day where volunteers build the new playground. We encourage you to forward this information to any others who may benefit. Please contact William Popwell at 202-464-6097 or wpopwell@kaboom.org with any questions and visit www.kaboom.org.

Check out this video about who we are and what we do and our quick time lapse video to see how a playground is built in a day! Thank you and have a playful day!

KaBOOM! Selection Process                  Current Playground Application (doc format)                  Sample Playground Design