New Playgrounds to Mark Katrina Anniversary
New Playgrounds to Mark Katrina Anniversary
On the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Hands On Network will mobilize thousands of volunteers in seven Gulf Coast communities to build 10 new playspaces in just four days.
In June, local children met with organizers from the Hands On Network , KaBOOM!, The Home Depot, and Playworld Systems to draw their dream playgrounds and share their ideas for the new playspace; the childrens drawings were used to create the final playground designs. In addition to a new play structure, projects also include a number of other enhancements, such as picnic tables, benches, shade structures and landscaping. Planning committees made up of local residents have met weekly with representatives from all four organizations to plan these enhancements as well as volunteer recruitment, site preparation and childrens activities for Build Day.
Hands On Network is a network of 58 nonprofit organizations around the world that inspire volunteers, create leaders, and change lives and communities through effective volunteer action. Immediately after the storms, Hands On Network established Hands On Action Centers in New Orleans and Biloxi to help with disaster recovery, and are now helping organize long-term rebuilding efforts in the areas.
Renewing hope for children is as important as rebuilding homes and businesses in Gulf Coast communities. These new playspaces are just one way The Home Depot is helping to restore communities following the devastation brought by Katrina, says Bob Nardelli, chairman, president & CEO of The Home Depot.
The 10 anniversary week sites are Nelson UNO Charter School (New Orleans), Second Street Elementary School (Bay St. Louis), Carolyn Park Middle School (Slidell), John Henry Beck Park (Biloxi), Pass Christian High School (Pass Christian), Owen T. Palmer Park (Gulfport), Carol Vegas Park (Bay St. Louis), Central Elementary School (Pascagoula), Miramar Park (Biloxi) and Hancock Medical Center (Bay St. Louis).
The projects are part of Operation Playground, a two-year initiative of KaBOOM! to build 100 playgrounds in Gulf Coast communities affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. By the end of this year, KaBOOM! will have mobilized more than 5,000 volunteers to build 30 playgrounds in the Gulf Coast through Operation Playground.
We want this week of play to show the Gulf Coast children and communities that we have not forgotten. At the same time, we need to remind the rest of the country that there is still a lot of work to do in the areas that were affected by the storms. There are still so many Gulf Coast children who have no safe place to play, no place to just be kids, says Darell Hammond, CEO and co-founder, KaBOOM!.
The Home Depot is investing more than $75 million to support the ongoing rebuilding efforts throughout the Gulf region. Combining capital construction with philanthropic support, the investment is creating jobs, driving economic activity and supporting local community efforts to rebuild homes and offer hope for the future. Through the Rebuilding Hope and Homes program, The Home Depot, The Home Depot Foundation and its suppliers have committed more than $11.5 million in cash and materials to all phases of the relief, response and rebuilding efforts.
KaBOOM! and Playworld Systems have been partners since 2000. As part of the Gulf initiative, Playworld Systems is donating all the playground and LifeTrail equipment for each of the 10 builds and working with The Home Depot, KaBOOM! and Hands On Network to build the structures.
More information on the anniversary week projects and Operation Playground is available at http://www.kaboom.org .
