New Playground

DESIGNED BY KIDS, BUILT BY VOLUNTEERS:
Old Colony YMCA, Shaw's, AND KaBOOM!
team up to build a new playground in just one day for Brockton children!

On September 10, 2009, more than 175 volunteers from Shaw's, the Old Colony YMCA, organizers from KaBOOM! and residents of the Brockton community joined forces to build a new, safe playground at Old Colony YMCA West Chestnut Street Childcare Center, 850 West Chestnut Street, Brockton. The new playground's design is based on drawings provided by children who attended a Design Day event in July.

Why:
The new playground will benefit children and community members who come to the Old Colony YMCA facility with a safe place to play. This center is home to 144 children each day. While at the center children receive the care and guidance they need to become healthy, responsible adults while their parents work.     

Shaw's has made a significant financial commitment to this project, which includes the construction of the playground, 125 Shaw's volunteers, as well as providing breakfast and a BBQ lunch for all of  the volunteers on Build Day.

The playspace is the first built by KaBOOM! and Shaw's, and one of more than 150 KaBOOM! will lead across the country in 2009 in an effort to provide a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

Community Partner
The Old Colony YMCA provides values based programs that strengthen the spirit, mind and body for everyone in thirty-one Southeastern Massachusetts communities. We are the largest childcare provider in the region with more than forty sites, serving more than 2,000 children each day!

Shaw's
Shaw's, Osco and Star Market are a division of SUPERVALU INC. Shaw's is one of the oldest continuously operated supermarkets in the United States with its roots dating to 1860. Throughout the six New England states, there are approximately 195 stores locations employing approximately 27,000 associates. SUPERVALU INC. is one of the largest companies in the U.S. grocery channel with estimated annual sales of $42 billion. SUPERVALU holds leading market share positions across the United States with its approximately 2,500 retail grocery locations, including nearly 900 in-store pharmacies. Through the company's nationwide supply chain network, SUPERVALU provides distribution and related logistics support services to more than 2,500 independent retailers across the country. SUPERVALU has approximately 180,000 employees.

KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since 1995, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct more than 1,600 new playgrounds, skateparks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including an online community, free online trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, which includes Playful City USA and Playmakers - a national network of individual advocates for play. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif.