Case Studies - Built to Play

Detroit, Michigan

Chandler Skatepark

Chandler Park Skatepark serves both neighbors and skaters from the wider region. The beginner-friendly design is welcoming and reflective of the community — an invitation for more local residents to try the sport. The skatepark hosts classes to get young kids — especially girls — skating. What’s more, the life of the space goes beyond skating; young kids interpret the skatepark as a play surface, while others spectate from the perimeter.

Salamanca, New York

Highland Ave Park Playground

An adventurous meeting ground in Seneca Nation Salamanca is a city of 6,000 people situated on a Seneca Nation reservation. The Highland Ave Park Playground project was an opportunity for non-profit, city, and reservation leaders to collaborate. Today, the playground is a gathering space for Native American and non-native community members, and an essential public offering for kids who otherwise lack safe, convenient play spaces in the area.

Howell, Michigan

Howell Summit Gardens Playground

A whimsical downtown gathering spot Howell Summit Gardens Playground is the center of gravity in downtown Howell, MI providing a unique, inviting experience that sets downtown Howell apart. The Built to Play grant helped transform a vacant and derelict lot into a whimsical and colorful public space for all ages. Howell Summit Gardens is more than a playground that encourages free and imaginative play — it is a vibrant community commons that brings people together and boosts the local economy.

Jamestown, New York

JSNY Power House Skatepark

A new home for a thriving skating community Already a popular area for street skating due to its hilly landscape, the skatepark was built upon a strong foundation of skating culture and community in Jamestown. The Built to Play grant supported the development of a flagship, regional destination skatepark. Opened in October 2023, the project invites experienced and rookie skaters alike — from a young girl trying on rollerblades for the first time to a father joining his kids for their after-school BMX session.

Buffalo, New York

MLK Jr. Park Playground

A magnetic neighborhood play space for all abilities KABOOM! prioritized MLK, Jr. Park, a historic park in Buffalo, for improvement, due, in large part, to its aging equipment and lack of ADA-accessible pathways. The reconstruction project leveraged community familiarity with and ties to the existing site — with a slight site change to improve pathway accessibility. Today, the playground serves residents of adjacent neighborhoods and visitors from a wider area in search of accessible play spaces.

Rochester, New York

Downtown Playwalk

A networked play space in the heart of downtown The PlayWalk, a trail of sidewalk play features connecting destinations in Downtown Rochester, elevates play by making it a more visible part of the city’s identity. The project has been a successful advocacy effort with lasting impact, perhaps best evidenced by Rochester’s newly adopted “Playful Sidewalk Policy” which allows “anyone to create a playful sidewalk in their area and the city will provide the paint.”

Springville, New York

Springville Skatepark

A skatepark for all ages to roll through The Springville Skatepark project was a long-awaited reconstruction of a run-down “skateplex.” It was kickstarted by a committee of parents and kids who recognized the importance of teen spaces and skateboarding as a form of free play, even if the previous ‘skateplex’ did not do justice to the sport. Before reconstruction, skaters in Springville lacked a high-quality nearby skatepark that they could visit for free to level up their skills. The space offers an opportunity for physical activity to adults and kids alike, while also providing an important social space for teens in particular.

Detroit, Michigan

Stein Park Playground

A playful centerpiece for a neighborhood park Stein Park is located in the heart of Cody Rouge, a predominantly Black residential neighborhood on the west side of Detroit, with one of the largest concentrations of youth in the city. In 2018, a long-time community dream to renovate Stein Park Playground was made possible by a Built to Play grant. The renovation project brought together a group of over 17 key, local stakeholders. Today, the space is a vibrant and multifunctional neighborhood amenity for kids and teens and the site of many neighborhood events.

Port Huron, Michigan

Palmer Park Superslide

A destination space in a playable city The SuperSlide is the brainchild of a dedicated local advocate, Nancy Winzer, who has been advancing play space investment in Port Huron, Michigan for years. The oversized slide adds character and a sense of thrill to Palmer Park, a recreational destination where the Port Huron Parks & Rectreation Department (PHREC) is also headquartered. SuperSlide’s popularity has boosted visitorship to the park as a whole. Similar to a sledding hill, the slide cleverly makes a fun activity out of climbing up the hill to slide down again, embedding physical exercise into play.

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