Healing Communities Through Play
Healing Communities Through Play™...
is a Play 4 ALL initiative that focuses on bringing residents and Law Enforcement Officers together to work cooperatively on designing and building a community wide playground.
The gift of play...
provides children and families the opportunity to exercise, foster friendships and hone in on vital developmental skills. Play is a great equalizer that powerfully and neutrally reaches people.
Play connects people, transcends boundaries and speaks to our universal humanity.
Regardless of people’s origin, race, socioeconomic status or ability, play bridges presumed differences and fosters connections. Playgrounds build confidence, strengthens character and provides a valuable service each and every day for the community at large.
Pilot Project: Ferguson, MO
The City of Ferguson leadership including Mayor and Police Chief, St. Louis area Fraternal Order of Police, Ferguson Parks and Recreation Department, community youth and local residents all came together in a cooperative effort to build a playground, and bring the power of play to the Ferguson Community Center on September 29, 2016.
Druid Hills Park: Charlotte, NC
On Wednesday, March 29, 2017 county residents, youth and local leaders joined Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Metro Division, and Cunningham Recreation for the second Healing Communities Through Play™ playground build at Druid Hills Park, 2801 Poinsett St. in Charlotte, NC. More than 100 volunteers worked together; police, youth and residents side by side, to build a playground.
“It’s a small idea, but one that can hopefully change negative perceptions and have a positive impact on our local communities,” says Officer Chelsea Kidder with the CMPD.