200 Community Volunteers Build a New Playground in Hialeah
Date: 10/25/19
Hialeah, Florida
Local health insurance company Ambetter from Sunshine Health joined the City of Hialeah Department of Parks and Recreation, national nonprofit KaBOOM!, and volunteers from across Hialeah and beyond to build a new playground at Bucky Dent Park in just six hours. See the video.
More than 200 volunteers transformed the well-loved, but outdated play structure into a kid-designed, state-of-the-art play space. The new playground features slides, climbing walls, a jungle gym, and more, and it also complies with Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. The new playground enhances the range of free recreational opportunities open to the community at Bucky Dent Park, which includes a softball complex, swimming pool, splash pad, and an indoor recreation facility.
In partnership with KaBOOM!, Ambetter from Sunshine Health and the City of Hialeah Department of Parks and Recreation worked together to collect input from local youth and families on the playground design, encourage community interest and involvement and prepare for today’s build. The partnership is an extension of Ambetter from Sunshine Health’s commitment to transforming the health of the community, one person at a time, by actively participating in the community and promoting overall health and wellness.
“Active play spaces are essential to the development of children. This new playground contributes to the strength of the recreational center that is already a core centerpiece in the community,” said Gail Daley, Vice President of Operations for Ambetter from Sunshine Health. “We are proud to be part of the Hialeah community, and are thrilled to help build a new playground for children and families to enjoy for years to come.”
KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit dedicated to creating safe places to play, organized the build, which was sponsored by Ambetter from Sunshine Health and supported by the City of Hialeah Department of Parks and Recreation.
“The City of Hialeah, our Mayor, our City Council, and our residents are extremely grateful for being chosen to partner with Ambetter from Sunshine Health and KaBOOM! to bring a brand new play space to Bucky Dent Park,” said Joseph Dziedzic, director of parks and recreation, City of Hialeah. “This playground represents our community’s involvement in parks and the importance of providing access to leisure and recreational activities throughout our great city.”
This playground is part of a broader effort led by Ambetter and KaBOOM! to ensure local communities have great play spaces for kids and families to live active, healthy lives. Ambetter has previously partnered with KaBOOM! to build playgrounds in Missouri and Georgia.
“All kids deserve places to grow, explore and just be kids,” said Lysa Ratliff, vice president of partnership development, KaBOOM!. “We are grateful to our partnership with Ambetter from Sunshine Health that will help make play the easier choice for kids and families.”