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City of Seattle Parks and Recreation Unveils Kid-Designed, Community-Built Playground with The Carmax Foundation and KABOOM! at Dr. Blanche Lavizzo Park 

This is part of a nationwide effort led by KABOOM! to end playspace inequity – the reality that far too many children do not get the chance to play on a playground, something that should be part of every child’s life. 

WHEN: October 26, 20238:30 a.m, – Volunteers construct playground, 2:30 p.m. – Ribbon cutting ceremony and photo opportunities  

WHERE: 2100 S. Jackson Street Seattle, WA 98144 

WHAT: Meet and speak with representatives from The City of Seattle, The CarMax Foundation, and KABOOM! to learn more about they came together with kids to envision and build the new community-designed playground at Blanche Lavizzo Park.  
 
Media may collect photos and b-roll of volunteers constructing the playground.  Mark Collier, Regional Vice President, CarMax Sarah Brown, Regional Vice President and The CarMax Foundation Board  will offer remarks at ribbon-cutting ceremony and will also be available for questions.  For more information, visit kaboom.org.   

CONTACT: To RSVP as a media attendee, contact  Kasey Smith at 210-268-5766  or Kasey.smith@seattle.gov

ADDITIONAL INFO: Volunteers from City of Seattle Parks & Recreation and CarMax are building a community-designed playground that will spark joy and foster a sense of belonging for kids in the Seattle area. This is part of a nationwide effort led by KABOOM! to end playspace inequity – the reality that far too many children – especially children of color – do not get the chance to play on a playground, something that should be part of every child’s life. Their work is to ensure every kid can experience the numerous physical, social, and mental health benefits of play regardless of background or where they live. In 2022, KABOOM! launched the 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity, the five-year initiative to accelerate efforts towards achieving their mission to end playspace inequity for good across the United States. This project represents progress in ensuring every kid has a place to play, providing a state-of-the-art playground for many children to enjoy each year.   Community members led the creation of the playground, from design to installation. In August, community members from the City of Seattle shared their vision for their dream playspaces with project organizers. These ideas were integrated into the new playground design.   The CarMax Foundation has provided the majority of funding for the project through its $3.9 million partnership with KABOOM! to help end playspace inequity. CarMax is committed to making a positive impact where we live and work to help our communities thrive.  To learn how partners can join KABOOM! in their efforts to end playspace inequity, visit kaboom.org/25-in-5.   

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About Seattle Parks and Recreation 

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) equips employees and the public for well-being as we support healthy people, a thriving environment and vibrant community. We provide safe and accessible spaces for residents and visitors to work, recreate, rejuvenate and enhance quality of life and wellness for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. S`PR manages a 6,441-acre park system of over 489 parks and extensive natural areas. SPR provides athletic fields, tennis courts, play areas, specialty gardens, and more than 25 miles of boulevards and 120 miles of trails. The system comprises about 12% of the city’s land area. SPR also manages many facilities, including 25 community centers, eight indoor swimming pools, two outdoor (summer) swimming pools, two environmental education centers, two small craft centers, four golf courses, an outdoor stadium, and much more. 

About The CarMax Foundation 

The CarMax Foundation promotes the causes associates care about to impact the communities where they live and work. Together with CarMax, Inc., the Foundation has donated more than $90 million since 2003. Funding programs are made available through a portion of CarMax, Inc.’s pre-tax profits. CarMax, the nation’s largest retailer of used autos, revolutionized the automotive retail industry by driving integrity, honesty and transparency in every interaction. The company offers a truly personalized experience with the option for customers to do as much, or as little, online and in-store as they want. During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, CarMax sold approximately 810,000 used vehicles and 590,000 wholesale vehicles at its auctions. In addition, CarMax Auto Finance originated nearly $9 billion in receivables during fiscal 2023, adding to its nearly $17 billion portfolio. CarMax has over 240 stores, more than 30,000 associates, and is proud to have been recognized for 19 consecutive years as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®. CarMax is committed to making a positive impact on people, communities and the environment. Learn more in the 2022 Responsibility Report. For more information, visit www.carmax.com. 

About KABOOM! 

KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ending playspace inequity – the reality that quality places to play are not available to every child, especially in communities of color. Since 1996, KABOOM! has partnered with kids and communities to build or improve 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that nearly 12 million kids have equitable access to the crucial benefits and opportunities that playspaces offer. In 2022, KABOOM! launched the 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity to accelerate its mission in 25 high-priority locations over five years. Learn more at kaboom.org or join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn