What: Over 200 volunteers from the Madieu Williams Foundation, residents of the Cincinnati community, and Cincinnati Parks, along with organizers from KaBOOM! will join forces on Saturday, March 29, to build a new playground at Owl’s Nest Park. The new playground is based on drawings provided by children who gave us their ideas during the playground Design Day this past December.
Why: The new playground will provide hundreds of area children in the surrounding neighborhoods a more inviting place to play. Currently, there stands just a single swing set in Owls Nest Park. Community activists from the diverse neighborhoods bordering the park have joined to obtain public and private funding to improve the park, and installing a major playground is one of the key elements of their master plan.
Since being drafted by the Bengals, it has been Madieu’s dream to fund a playground for the Cincinnati community to get kids out and active. This playground is the first partnership project between KaBOOM! and the Madieu Williams Foundation, and one of more than 225 KaBOOM! will lead across the country in 2008 in an effort to provide a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.
When: March 29, 2008
8:30 a.m. – Kick off and volunteer deployment
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – Best time to view playground under construction
2:00 p.m. – Ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate new play area
(Note: all times approximate)
Where: Owl's Nest Park
1984 Madison Road (not Madison Ave.)
Cincinnati, OH 45208
Who: Volunteers from Madieu Williams Foundation, Cincinnati Parks & Owls Nest Park Advisory Council, Madieu Williams, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, Cincinnati Park Board Vice President Roscoe Fultz
Madieu Williams Foundation
Because his mother passed away from a stroke after his rookie season, Madieu understands first-hand the severity of minority health issues. The Madieu Williams Foundation focuses on health, wellness, nutrition, fitness and education for underprivileged youth. Through his foundation, Madieu reaches out to youth and teaches them at an early age the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Cincinnati Parks & Owls Nest Park Advisory Council
Cincinnati Parks is committed to providing parks that are clean, safe, reliable, green, beautiful and enriching to our community. Owls Nest Park is one of 70 neighborhood parks in Cincinnati, nestled between two different neighborhoods - Evanston and East Walnut Hills - and adjacent to the O’Bryonville business district. The park is across the street from Cincinnati Public Schools’ Academy of World Languages and close to seven other public and private schools.
The Owls Nest Park Advisory Council formed in 2005 and has worked hard to develop a park improvement plan and the funding to implement it. In addition to building this great new playground, park entrances will be revitalized, attractive lighting will be added throughout the 10.5 acre site and improved picnic and seating areas will make it possible for people of all ages to enjoy Owls Nest Park. Such major improvements would not be possible at Owls Nest Park, or many other Cincinnati Parks, without the work and enthusiasm of our thousands of community volunteers.
For more information about projects, nature programs and special events in Cincinnati Parks, visit www.cincinnati-oh.gov/parks.
KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since 1995, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct more than 1,300 new playgrounds, skateparks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including an online community, regional and national trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, which includes Playful City USA and the Playmaker Network – a national network of individual advocates for play. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago, Atlanta and San Mateo, CA. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.
*LOCALLY, THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS WILL BE HOLDING OUR ANNUAL PLAYGROUND BUILD ON JUNE 4 AT THE SEED ACADEMY IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS. THE ENTIRE VIKINGS ORGANIZATION INCLUDING EXECUTIVES, STAFF, COACHES AND PLAYERS WILL PARTICIPATE.