OTTAWA — Ottawa has been named as a Playful City for this year. Ottawa was first named a Playful City two years ago and was among 213 American cities and towns named by the Kaboom Foundation. It’s the third designation for Ottawa. “Ottawa is thrilled to be recognized again as a Playful City,” said city manager Richard Nienstedt. The city is planning its annual play day now, to be held july 14, 2012, at forest park from 10-1, so mark your calendar. Nienstedt shared, “We couldn’t do this work without our play task force members Abbi Watts, Pete Hornung, Gina Taldo, Fonda Rose, Sara Caylor, Lisa Rivers, Tommy Sink, Jessica Walter, Dean Katt, Andy Haney, Leslie Quillen, Doug Reinert and Wynndee Lee.” Kaboom also specifically honored Ottawa for its a community-wide volunteer project to raise funds and build an accessible playground in Kanza Park last summer, said Lee. The Kanza project was a major factor in winning the Playful City designation this year, she said. The Ottawa play task force hopes to replace the old timber playground equipment in Forest Park as its next large project, she said. Kaboom’s Playful City USA is a national program advocating local policies that increase play opportunities for children and helps get kids outside playing. “According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, play is critical to healthy brain development. It allows children to use their creativity while simultaneously developing imagination, dexterity and physical, cognitive and emotional strength,” Lee said. “Yet today’s children spend less time playing outside than any previous generation in part because only 1 in 5 live within walking distance of a park or playground. The resulting play deficit is having profound consequences for kids physically, socially and academically.” Playful City USA communities are eligible for $15,000, $20,000 and $30,000 Let’s Play grants. Kaboom recently awarded an Imagination Playground in a Box grant to Ottawa. The city is planning its annual play day now, to be held July 14 at Forest Park from 10 to 1.
Tuesday, May 1, 3 p.m.
