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Kids
at YWCA CDC Design Their Dream Playground
Partnership
with KaBOOM!, WaMu bringing new play area to child development center
on Compton Boulevard
By
Allison Jean Eaton
Bulletin Staff Writer
COMPTON – From
your typical slide and swing set to more imaginative requests like
a tree house, tunnel and “choo-choo train,” toddlers and
pre-school age children who spend their days at the child development
center at the YWCA offered up requests for their up-and-coming new
playground.
Nonprofit KaBOOM! and Washington Mutual (WaMu) have teamed to make
the new playground a reality. The two organizations hosted a design
day Tuesday, June 17 at the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles’ Compton
Boulevard location.
KaBOOM! and WaMu are supplying the volunteers, and YWCA is chipping
in financially.
During last week’s event, each child was given a piece of paper
and markers to draw his or her “dream playground.” Later,
volunteers from WaMu and YWCA officials assisted KaBOOM!’s Bing
Wu in determining the final playground equipment “wish list.” The
actual build day is slated for Saturday, Aug. 16.
The playground at the YWCA Child Development Center (CDC) is in average
condition but is outdated, drably colored and still incorporates sand.
According to YWCA officials, it’s been in place for at least
10 years.
“They’ve had that for so long,” said Keshia Davis,
mother of 4-year-old Ke-mya Richard. Ke-mya is the third of Davis’ three
children to attend the YWCA CDC. “I think it’s a good thing
that they’re trying to give them (the kids) something different.”
Dedicated to ensuring children who live in disadvantaged areas have
a safe place to play, KaBOOM! was founded in 1996. This is not the
first time the San Mateo-based organization has ventured into the Hub
City to build a state-of-the-art playground.
In September 2006, it teamed with The Home Depot and community volunteers
to install new playground equipment over 4,500 square feet of play
space for the children living at the Douglas Park apartment complex
at Rosecrans and Willowbrook avenues.
According to Gary Kishner, a WaMu spokesman on hand at the event, said
his company is volunteering with KaBOOM! because it realizes the importance
of children having a safe place to learn and play.
Many schools and parks offer dilapidated play structures that often
still incorporate sand, which is no longer a common practice due to
sanitary and safety issues.
KaBOOM!’s approach in tackling this problem is unique in that
it uses a community build model, meaning community members and other
stake holders are asked to contribute by pitching in on build day.
According to its Website, www.kaboom.org, it’s all about the “Law
of Incredible Returns” – whether you’re a kid, parent,
community leader or businessperson, what you put into something is
what you get out of it.
Leslie Orticke, a YWCA fund development associate and the playground
project manager, said YWCA is actively seeking volunteers for build
day on Aug. 16, which will feature a cookout and music. The YWCA is
located at 1600 E. Compton Blvd.
Already on board are members from Omega Psi Phi fraternity. For more
information on volunteering, call (310) 763-9117.
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