National non-profit KaBOOM! is honoring the City of Oakley with a 2017 Playful City USA designation for the second time.
Playful City USA honors cities and towns across the country for putting the needs of families first so kids can learn, grow and develop important life skills. The recognition is given to communities that make it easy for all kids to get balanced and active play through programs, policies and infrastructure.
Oakley’s playful endeavors include progressive planning efforts that ensure that each new residential development includes adequate play spaces, a Youth Empowerment Program that give gives middle and high school students an opportunity to have a voice in the planning and implementation of programs and policies by their participation in the Oakley Youth Advisory Council, having been the first City in East Contra Costa County to install an All Abilities Playground (universally accessible playground) that engages children of all abilities, through wheelchair access points and interactive areas for children with hearing or visual impairments.
Furthermore, we aim to make fun available to all members of our community by offering income qualified scholarships which can reduce the cost of programs by 50%. The City also partners with You, Me, We Oakley to expand programs and inclusion of diverse populations through translated outreach, cultural performances at events, education exhibits, art shows, workshops and citizenship drives.
This award was also due to strong and exemplary partnerships with our local school districts, East Bay Regional Parks District, and multiple community service organizations who provide access to their facilities, as well as extend themselves into programming.
“As a City Council we have striven to ensure our city’s development continues to live up to our slogan of ‘being a place for families in the heart of the Delta’, this recognition provides confirmation that we continue to be a family friendly community, that’s something we can all celebrate,” stated Oakley Mayor Sue Higgins.
“We are thrilled to recognize these communities that have invested their time and efforts to put kids first,” said KaBOOM! CEO James Siegal. “Balanced and active play is crucial to the well-being of kids and the communities that they thrive in. By integrating play into cities, the leaders of Playful Cities USA are working to attract and retain the thousands of families that want homes in close proximity to safe places to play.”
Our geographic location provides many recreation and play opportunities through access to trails, parks, events, and recreational programs. Make sure you’re fully enjoying all that is available by visiting our website www.ci.oakley.ca.us.
To see the full list of Playful City USA communities and to learn more about making play the easy choice for kids, visit kaboom.org/playfulcityusa. You can also take part in the conversation with leaders across the country using #PLAYceforkids on Twitter and Facebook.
About KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids—particularly those growing up in poverty in America—the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open or improve nearly 16,700 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers and served 8.5 million kids. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. To learn why #playmatters and why cities are embracing #playability: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom.
