WEST POINT – West Point Elementary School's playground serves both that school and West Point Middle, as well as being a community park outside school hours. Most of the equipment is more than 30 years old (some more than 40), though, and showing its age in all the bad ways: rusty metal, splintering wood. A group of concerned citizens led by Lori Bates has taken on the challenge of revitalizing the facility, bringing it up to current standards and introducing access and targeted activities for those with special needs. Through a series of grants and fundraising activities, the West Point Elementary School Playground Project hopes to fund up to $130,000 in renovations and improvements at the site.
In November, the project received a shot in the arm from the Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) and KaBOOM! (a national nonprofit promoting play as part of a healthy lifestyle for children) in the form of a "Let's Play" construction grant of $15,000. According to Bates, this brings the current total of raised funds to $45,000. The tentative schedule for the beginning of renovations and construction is spring 2017.
Below is a Dec. 15 DPS/KABOOM! press release received by the Tribune:
The grant is part of Let’s Play, an initiative by DPS to provide kids and families with the tools, places and inspiration to make active play a daily priority. Unstructured, child-directed play has proven to help kids develop physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually, yet today’s kids have less time and fewer opportunities to play than any previous generation. As a result of expanded Let’s Play grants and projects, more than 1 million kids will benefit from new or improved playgrounds around the nation by the end of 2016.
“This is going to be a wonderful community project,” said Grantee Representative Lori S. Bates. “This school and community is going to benefit greatly with the help of this grant.”
The current playground at WPES is well over 30 years old and has become dangerous for play. This new playground is going to give all children including those with special needs, a wonderful and safe place to play. This playground will be the heart of the West Point Community.
DPS launched Let’s Play in 2011 with a $15 million commitment to KaBOOM! to build or improve 2,000 playgrounds. In 2014, Dr Pepper Snapple and KaBOOM! extended their partnership through 2016 with an additional $10 million commitment from DPS to continue providing kids with the active play they need.
Visit Let’s Play at www.LetsPlay.com to join the conversation and learn how to apply for the various available grants to make communities more active and playful.
Information about the project and opportunities to contribute can be found on the project Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WPESplaygroundproject/.
Background: http://www.cullmansense.com/articles/2016/11/04/west-point-playground-rebuilding-next-generation
About West Point Elementary School Playground
West Point Elementary School playground in Cullman, AL serves approximately 750 children daily from the elementary and intermediate schools. The playground hosts weekend parties and events for the community as well. Our school wide slogan is "We promote and encourage success." This slogan is visual throughout our school and is known in our community. In addition, our school is guided by the mission statement “to provide a safe and challenging learning environment with opportunities for each student to learn skills, acquire knowledge, and develop character necessary to become responsible, successful citizens."
About Let’s Play
Let’s Play is an initiative launched in 2011 by Dr Pepper Snapple Group to provide the tools, places and inspiration to make play a daily priority. By 2017, DPS will provide nearly 10 million children across North America with new opportunities to play and be active through Let’s Play. In partnership with the nonprofit organizations KaBOOM! and Good Sports, Let’s Play is working to eliminate the ‘play deficit’ by building and improving play spaces and providing grants for athletic equipment and gear. For more information, please visit LetsPlay.com or Facebook.com/LetsPlay.
About Dr Pepper Snapple Group
Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) is a leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. Our success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. We have 6 of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and 13 of our 14 leading brands are No. 1 or No. 2 in their flavor categories. In addition to our flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, our portfolio includes 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Clamato, Crush, Hawaiian Punch, Mott's, Mr & Mrs T mixers, Peñafiel, Rose's, Schweppes, Squirt and Sunkist soda. To learn more about our iconic brands and Plano, Texas-based company, please visit www.DrPepperSnapple.com. For our latest news and updates, follow us at www.Facebook.com/DrPepperSnapple or www.Twitter.com/DrPepperSnapple.
About KaBOOM!
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. To learn why #playmatters and why cities are embracing #playability: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom.
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