With all of the focus on promoting physical activity sometimes we forget that children don't always have a place to go. Throughout inner cities and other urban areas some children don't have access to playgrounds or other places to recreate.

At The People's Co-Op, a Washington, DC public housing development, the options for young residents to have fun outdoors were limited and included playing between parked cars on blacktop. The alternatives weren't any better if they left the protection of their community housing space. That was of course until KaBoom! showed up.

KaBoom! puts the "I Can" and the "How To" into the art of playground building. From inception to execution KaBoom! provided the knowledge and support to organize a host of participants to provide the funding and muscle to get the job done. From volunteers within the community, the Kraft Foods Foundation, the Summit Health Institute for Research and Education (SHIRE), the US Navy Seabees, and even the staff of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition we all played a role in ensuring the success of the project.

When we come together as a community anything is possible, even building a playground from breaking ground to wheeling the last barrel of mulch on ribbon-cutting day. Often we underestimate what a few concerned citizens can do to make a significant change or perhaps we believe that someone else will make a difference. Imagine the power we could have if every community across the country made building a local playground a priority.

In the meantime, I know that this won’t be my last KaBoom! playground build, so I hope to see you out there spreading the mulch with me next time!