Kenmore Recognized as 2016 Playful City USA Community

Kenmore Recognized as 2016 Playful City USA Community

257 communities exhibiting Playability to be recognized as part of 2016 Playful City USA Program 

Kenmore is being honored with a 2016 Playful City USA designation for the seventh year in a row. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the national recognition program honors cities and towns across the country for making their cities more playable. Kenmore is one of five cities in the state of Washington along with Auburn, Maple Valley, Mercer Island and Mountlake Terrace recognized as a Playful City in 2016.

“The City of Kenmore strives to create a safe and fun environment for people to live a healthy and active lifestyle. We continue to be dedicated to incorporating opportunities for play through community events, recreation programming, parks and trails among other ways. Our greatest pleasure is seeing a smile on the faces of children and adults in the community,” said Mayor David Baker.

Over the past few years, the City developed a parks plan and a transportation plan which represent the community’s vision for parks, recreation facilities, and transportation in Kenmore through the year 2035. Recommendations include more waterfront access, active recreation facilities, and many other projects. The City also has a six-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that shows the timing of Parks and Transportation projects that are funded or partially funded. In April 2016, the City completed a yearlong community conversation called “Imagine Kenmore” to ask Kenmore residents to help determine if any unfunded or new projects should move forward in the next few years, since there are limits on what can be paid for with current funding sources. The result was a list of potential projects focused on walkways and waterways.

Kenmore also hosts several organized events including the annual Kenmore Play Day, a day dedicated to the kids in the community to enjoy the outdoors. The event features play stations, education booths, fitness stations, crafts, and more. New this summer, Kenmore has partnered with Skyhawks and Skate Like a Girl to host sports camps designed for any skill level.

Communities across the country are creating innovative ways to bring back play and attract residents through family friendly activities. Interactive sidewalk art, designated play spaces on trails and the transformation of schoolyards into active play areas are just a few examples of how cities are becoming more playful.

“We are thrilled to recognize these communities that have invested their time and efforts to put kids first,” said KaBOOM! CEO James Siegal. “Balanced and active play is crucial to the well-being of kids and the communities that they thrive in.  By integrating play into cities, the leaders of Playful Cities USA are working to attract and retain the thousands of families that want homes in close proximity to safe places to play.”

To learn more about these cities, see the full list of the 257 communities named 2016 Playful City USA honorees, or to gather more information on the Playful City USA program, visit www.playfulcityusa.org. We also encourage you to take part in the conversation on #playability with these thought leaders on Twitter and Facebook. 

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About Kenmore
Located at the northern tip of Lake Washington, Kenmore is an economically healthy city in King County where innovative businesses soar without limits. Kenmore is building an innovation hub to attract and support start-ups, as well as help existing multigenerational businesses seeking to expand. Kenmore has many benefits: family-friendly neighborhoods; abundant parks and natural spaces; a variety of cultural activities; award-winning public school system; access to higher education; and the finest close-in medical care. The city’s central location and ease of access by highway, regional trail, seaplane or boat, make it an easy place to live and work. For more information, visit: www.kenmorewa.gov.

About KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open or improve nearly 16,300 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers and served 8.1 million kids. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. To learn why #playmatters: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom.