Volunteers Build Dream Playground for North Las Vegas Children

For more information, contact:

Addy Kujawa (847)384-4033 kujawa@aaos.org

For Immediate Release
02/24/2009

Volunteers Build Dream Playground for North Las Vegas Children
6,000 square feet in just one day

North Las Vegas, NV

Every child deserves a great place to play and the children of North Las Vegas will receive just that – a playground built from the hard work of caring volunteers.

On Tuesday, February 24, 2009, hundreds of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ members and their families, community volunteers, orthopaedic nurses and Academy industry partners and related organizations are gathering from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nevada Partners (710 West Lake Mead) to build a playground in a single day so the area children – with and without disabilities – can play together in a safe, accessible environment.

The new 6,000-square-foot playground is sponsored by the Academy – in partnership with Nevada Partners, Communities In Schools, Family to Family Connection and KaBOOM!, a national non-profit that helps communities build playgrounds. This is the first playground in the community that is fully accessible to children with physical disabilities.

Features of the new playground:

Rubberized surfaces

Wheelchair accessible ramps

“Tot lot” for children ages 2-5

Larger play structure for children ages 5-12

Safety sign in Braille

Extensive amount of slides and play components

Climbing and balancing activities

Sign language board

Quotes: “Providing a safe playground where kids with and without disabilities can play together gives us the opportunity to prevent, not just treat, injuries,” explained Fred Redfern, MD, Henderson orthopaedic surgeon.

“The playground, as part of the Child Care Cooperative, will help the community overcome a significant barrier to self-sufficiency,” said Steven Horsford, President of the Board of Nevada Partners. “Our clients and students will be able to focus on getting the education and training they need, knowing that their children are playing in a safe and enriching environment.”

“We can feed, clothe and provide shelter for a child, but if he does not have joy, then we have not helped him,” State Director of Communities In Schools, Louise Helton, said. “This playground will provide that vital element that has been missing; a safe place for these children to play and just be kids.”

Tips to minimize and prevent playground injuries:

Playground Safety Information

Playground Safety: Tips for Kids

Playground partners:

Nevada Partners, INC.

Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada

Family to Family Connection, Las Vegas West

About KaBOOM!

Playground Video

More information about the AAOS