MEDIA ADVISORY
City of Bethlehem to Unveil Kid-Designed, Community-Built Playground with Pennsylvania Municipal League and KABOOM! at Fairview Park
This is part of a nationwide effort led by KABOOM! to end playspace inequity – the reality that far too many children do not get the chance to play on a playground, something that should be part of every child’s life.
| WHEN: | Monday, October 2 – Wednesday, October 4 Monday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Playground prep day Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Playground prep day (if needed) Wednesday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Playground build day Wednesday 3:30 p.m. Ribbon-cutting ceremony (times approximate) |
| WHERE: | Fairview Park 415-427 4th Ave. Bethlehem, PA 18018 |
| WHAT: | Meet and speak with representatives from the City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Municipal League, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and KABOOM! to learn more about how they came together with kids to envision and build the new community and kid-designed playground at Fairview Park. Media may collect photos and b-roll of volunteers constructing the playground. |
| WHO: | Mayor J. William Reynolds, City of Bethlehem John Brenner, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Municipal League Neighborhood residents Speakers will offer remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and will also be available for questions. |
| ADDITIONAL INFO: | Volunteers from The City of Bethlehem and The League, DCNR, and KABOOM! together with sponsors Infradapt, Bethlehem Parking Authority, Highmark, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Giant Foods, and Peron Development are building a kid-designed playground that will spark joy and foster a sense of belonging for kids in Bethlehem. This is part of a nationwide effort led by KABOOM! to end playspace inequity – the reality that far too many children – especially children of color – do not get the chance to play on a playground, something that should be part of every child’s life. Their work is to ensure every kid can experience the numerous physical, social, and mental health benefits of play regardless of background or where they live. In 2022, KABOOM! launched the 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity, the five-year initiative to accelerate efforts towards achieving their mission to end playspace inequity for good across the United States. This project represents progress in ensuring every kid has a place to play, providing a state-of-the-art playground for more than 300 children to enjoy each year. To RSVP as a media attendee, contact: The League: Debbie Bitting | 717-236-9469, x*223 | dbitting@pml.org City of Bethlehem: Sara Satullo | 610-419-9003 | ssatullo@bethlehem-pa.gov |
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About City of Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a city of 75,000 people in eastern Pennsylvania – a city known for its rich colonial and industrial history. Today Bethlehem is experiencing an economic and cultural renaissance promising a future as bright as the city’s past. Bethlehem’s City Hall is located at 10 E. Church St., Bethlehem PA 18018 | www.bethlehem-pa.gov.
About Pennsylvania Municipal League
The mission of the Pennsylvania Municipal League (The League) is to strengthen, empower and advocate for effective local government. The League is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization established in 1900 as an advocate for Pennsylvania’s 3rd class cities. Today, The League represents Pennsylvania cities, boroughs, townships, and home rule communities that all share their municipal policy interests. The Board of Directors oversees the administration of a wide array of municipal services including legislative advocacy, publications, education/training, consulting-based programs, and group insurance trusts. For more information, please visit PML.org. Join the conversation on Twitter @PAMunicipalLeag, #StrengthThroughEngagement, #MunicipalLeadershipSummit23, facebook.com/PaMunicipalLeague and LinkedIn.
About KABOOM!
KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ending playspace inequity – the reality that quality places to play are not available to every child, especially in communities of color. Since 1996, KABOOM! has partnered with kids and communities to build or improve 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that nearly 12 million kids have equitable access to the crucial benefits and opportunities that playspaces offer. In 2022, KABOOM! launched the 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity to accelerate its mission in 25 high-priority locations over five years. Learn more at kaboom.org or join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.