for play.
The City of Coral Gables is one of 217 cities and towns recognized as a 2013 Playful City USA community for its efforts to give children the childhood they deserve by providing ample opportunities for play.
Sponsored by the Humana Foundation, Playful City USA is a national program from KaBOOM! that celebrates and promotes local policies increasing play opportunities for children and is a key platform in combating the lack of play among children.
Today’s generation of children play less than any previous generation despite the vast benefits of play. The Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics reports that play is essential to the social, emotional, cognitive and physical well-being of children.
“Playful City USA communities like Coral Gables are creating innovative programs and initiatives and deserve recognition because of their efforts to give kids the childhood they deserve and best prepare them for their and CEO of KaBOOM! and author of The New York Times Best Seller KaBOOM!: A Movement to Save Play.
KaBOOM! selected Coral Gables for its outstanding dedication to play.
“Thanks to the Neighborhood Renaissance Program, the city will implement several significant capital improvement projects that will increase the quantity and quality of play spaces for our children,” said Mayor Jim Cason.
This program includes the development, renovation and acquisition of various park and recreational facilities throughout Coral Gables. In addition, Coral Gables continues to pursue joint usage agreements to positively affect the opportunities for children to play in school. Currently, the city has a compact agreement with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to allow usage of local parks for play and physical education to students.
