The Washtenaw County Health Department is thrilled to have been awarded $74,000 to transform public spaces and create opportunities for active play where kids need it most through the KaBoom! Play Everywhere Challenge.
In an effort to make our Humans Services Building more welcoming, and to help families claim and play in the space, the project - named Play Here: Play Together - will bring a bright, interactive play space promoting physical activity and health. The Play Here: Play Together design includes two concepts: play features and interactive sidewalks painted with bright vibrant colors and incorporating games and health themes. The goal is to transform the way we all think about and interact with our public space and services.
Proposed play features include accessible equipment, a farm stand, sensory play center, musical instruments, multilingual panels, and a fruit and vegetable “hidden picture” game. However, we want to know what you want in this public space. The first several months of the project will be devoted to hearing from community members before we finalize our plans. Be sure to check back at washtenaw.org/health and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more information on how to give feedback.
The KaBoom! Play Everywhere Challenge is funding with support from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation from the Built to Play Fund. Organized by KaBoom!, the competitive challenge is designed to uncover the best replicable, scalable innovations in city redevelopment and design that will make play easy, available and fun for all kids and families. It is an opportunity to reimagine what and where a play space is and can be.
The Health Department is working with many partners on this project, including the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, Office of Community and Economic Development and Community Mental Health, the City of Ypsilanti, and County administration and facilities.
The grant timeline is one year, ending in mid-August 2019.