creating equitable
playspaces with
youth and families

In addition to the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, many kids have been cut off from recreation, socializing and play. StriveTogether partnered with KABOOM! and Cradle to Career Network members in a multi-city effort to advance playspace equity in Minnesota, Texas and New York.

At the core of this effort was a shared commitment to engaging authentically with youth, families and community members most impacted by racial and ethnic inequities. These playspace projects demonstrate how powerful that co-development can be in creating equitable, sustainable outcomes for kids.

In Minnesota, Northfield Promise is leading a playspace project in partnership with Northfield Public Schools at a new early learning center near the community’s highest density low-income housing areas. The team used creative methods to gather ideas from kids and families, like handing out design workbooks at school food distribution sites.

In Texas, RGV FOCUS is working with the United Way of Cameron County and the City of Brownsville to design a playspace to support early grade literacy. Local health concerns slowed the project down, but this challenge has expanded opportunities for community and kid input into the playspace design.

In New York, ROC the Future is leading the creation of a playspace for teens and older youth. Project partners are recruiting teens to work alongside adult volunteers to design, plan and install an adventure course-style playspace.