Rahway Recognized as 2015 Playful City USA Community
Rahway is one of only four cities in New Jersey recognized as a Playful City USA for 2015
Rahway. Mayor Samson D. Steinman and the Rahway City Council are proud to announce that Rahway is being honored with a 2015 Playful City USA designation for the first time. In partnership with the Humana Foundation, KaBOOM! is honoring cities, towns and counties across the country for making their communities more playable.
“Creating opportunities to constructively occupy our youth should be priority for any community. By providing educational and healthy activities, we ensure that our children are on a good path” says Rahway Mayor Samson D. Steinman. “Rahway has recognized this fact and continues to invest in our future through after-school activities and outdoor community events.”
Rahway has been recognized for its creative approach to playability with programs and events such as Youth Wrestling Demo Night on the Train Station Plaza, tailgating games and dance lessons on the street during Cherry Street Alive, and turning a parking lot into a basketball orientated fair for the March Madness Festival that saw over 1,000 people come out to play even with snow still on the ground.
“Playability is crucial to the success of our future communities, and we are proud of the work these cities and leaders are doing to provide a better quality of life for all residents, and especially families,” says KaBOOM! President, James Siegal. “Play provides a competitive advantage for cities looking to attract and retain residents. With these esteemed leaders, and our friends and partners across the country, we continue to prioritize play for all kids.”
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open or improve nearly 16,300 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers and served 8.1 million kids. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives.
The Playful Cities designation provides Rahway with road signs, marketing and other materials, policy maps and access to grants and other funding opportunities to help increase playability within the community.
To learn more about the Playful City USA program and see the full list of the 241 communities named 2015 Playful City USA honorees visit www.playfulcityusa.org.
