Community joins forces with nonprofit to advance playspace equity at Babcock Park

Kids at Babcock Park in Hialeah, Florida are celebrating as the city debuts a kid-designed, community-built playground. The months-long collaboration between The City of Hialeah, Smile Generation, and KABOOM! culminated this week as more than 200 volunteers built the new playspace that will spark joy and foster a sense of belonging for over 1,000 kids each year in Hialeah.

The new playspace with The City of Hialeah and Smile Generation is part of a nationwide effort led by KABOOM! to end playspace inequity – the reality that far too many children do not get the chance to play on a playground, something that should be part of every child’s life. Community members led the creation of the playground, from design to installation. In January, kids from Hialeah shared drawings of their dream playspaces with project organizers. These ideas were integrated into the new playground design.

“The City of Hialeah is so grateful for being selected by our friends at KABOOM! to receive nearly 100% funding for a new playground at Babcock Park,” said William Sanchez, Hialeah Parks and Recreation Director. “With the amazing contribution both in funding and labor from our corporate sponsors, Smile Generation, we were able to build an entire playground from scratch in one day! As part of the project, three organizations planned a special ‘Design Day’ for all the kids in the community. During Design Day, children were encouraged to put their imaginations on paper and design their ideal playground. With their input carefully considered, roughly 200 volunteers from our sponsors and the community met on Saturday, March 9th at Babcock Park to work cohesively to ultimately replace what was once an outdated and unsightly play space with a new, more interactive playground for the children in our community. Babcock Park is the City’s oldest recreational facility and its prime location near three primary schools and the City’s affiliation with the Miami Marlins Youth Academy reinforces the need and importance of this wonderful project. The park is open seven days a week and is utilized heavily by surrounding residents on a daily basis. A huge thank you to KABOOM!, Smile Generation, and those who worked tirelessly to bring the visions of the youth in our city to fruition.”

Playing is the essence of childhood and is a critical developmental need that provides countless physical, social, and mental health benefits. However, far too many children, especially in communities of color, do not have a place to play near where they live or learn. The new playground at Babcock Park, designed with the neighborhood’s unique needs and aspirations in mind, brings Hialeah one step closer toward ending playspace inequity and ensuring that no matter where a child lives or their background, they have limitless opportunities and joyful childhoods that are centered around play.

“Playgrounds are an iconic part of childhood where kids collect some of their best memories and experience the countless physical and mental health benefits of play,” said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!. “KABOOM! is thrilled to work with our partners to bring to life the new playspace at Babocock Park and ensure that generations of kids in Hialeah can grow up happy and healthy through access to playspaces where they feel they are valued and belong.”

Smile Generation provided support for the new playground through its partnership with KABOOM!, furthering its commitment to ending playspace inequity. Since 2010, Smile Generation has partnered with KABOOM! to build 19 playgrounds across the U.S.

Smile Generation Ambassador Daris Hondoy was particularly excited to attend the unveiling of this playground because of his personal connection to the park.

“I spent countless afternoons at Babcock Park as a kid, enjoying the outdoors and the freedom that having my own space brought,” said Hondoy. “Growing up in this neighborhood, there were few outdoor spaces made for kids, which is why I’m so thrilled to be a part of this project and to see the rejuvenation it brings the park and the community. This new playground will undoubtedly make a difference in the lives of local kids like me and ensure they can continue to access a safe, fun outdoor space for years to come.”