BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, KaBOOM!, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and 200 Community Volunteers Unite to Build Playground at Mayors Park

-Increasing Opportunities to Play for Families and Kids in North Tonawanda-

Volunteers from BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, and the community will join KaBOOM! on Saturday, July 27 to transform an empty site into a kid-designed, state-of-the-art playground at Mayors Park in just six hours. The new playground will help make play the easy choice for kids and families in North Tonawanda.

Play is essential to physical, creative, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Currently, many playgrounds exist in North Tonawanda, but there are no current standing play units to address the play needs for the underserved kids in this area of the city. The park, which is adjacent to the bike path that leads to downtown and is nestled along the waterfront, will be transformed into a perfect family destination for play and activity to help cultivate friendships and bring families together. Through this playground project, the City of North Tonawanda will work with Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and KaBOOM! to make a difference in their community and address the most urgent needs of kids.

In May, kids from the surrounding community came together to draw their dream playground. The playground is based off their drawings and will provide thousands of kids in North Tonawanda with a great, safe place to play over its lifetime.

This playground is part of a broader effort to ensure communities have great PLAYces for kids and families, creating an oasis where kids feel valued and loved, and where their potential is supported, nurtured and celebrated. 

WHEN:            Saturday, July 27 

8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.                        Kick-off ceremony

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.                      Best viewing of playground construction

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.                        Final construction phase

2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.                        Ribbon-cutting ceremony

(Times approximate)

WHERE:          Mayors Park

Mayors Park Drive, North Tonawanda, NY 14120

WHO:              Mayor Arthur G. Pappas

BlueCross BlueShield of WNY

KaBOOM!

Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation

Hundreds of community volunteers