Kids across the country are celebrating the start of summer vacation. To make sure they have plenty of safe and fun places to play, Target and our nonprofit partner, KaBOOM!, are teaming up with schools and community leaders to build new play spaces that encourage kids to stay physically active.
Part of our partnership kicked off last year, we’ve built 186 play spaces across the U.S. together, reaching more than 465,000 kids. Through these partnerships, Target aims to help make wellness more affordable, accessible and inspirational for our team members, guests and communities. Check out highlights from some of our recent builds:
Houston
A new playground came to life at Thompson Elementary School with the help of 200 volunteers—and a special guest. Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins opened the event with a welcome for attendees, then got his hands dirty assembling the new playground features.
“As a professional athlete, I know first-hand how important it is for kids to get out and play,” Hopkins said. “When I’m not on the field, I love to go on runs with my family around the track or at the park. Technology is great, I love it, but kids should get outside, have fun and explore! Parents should also encourage their kids to go outside and play to promote an active lifestyle and keep them healthy and happy. The playgrounds that Target and KaBOOM! are building together are the perfect place to do that.”
It’s the second playground we’ve built in the greater Houston area, and will serve more than 1,000 local kids, including students from five neighboring schools who share the grounds.
Fort Lauderdale
More than 180 Target volunteers joined forces with the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., community to build a new playground at Middle River Terrace Park. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry kicked off the event with help from his mom, Dietra, then pitched in with volunteers spreading mulch over the playground floor.
“Having a safe place to play is so important for kids,” Landry said. “When I was a kid, I was always playing football in the park with the neighborhood kids, and that kept me out of trouble. I remember the nights my mom would come to the park and tell me it was time to go home after being out there all day. So having the opportunity to participate in this build and do my part to help kids stay active and busy here in South Florida is a big deal.”
The playground is the second we’ve built with KaBOOM! in South Florida, and will serve nearly 3,000 kids in the local community.
Look like fun? Check out more photos from our recent builds with KaBOOM! across the country:
Learn more about Target’s work with KaBOOM!.
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