New Playground in Waxahachie Aims to Encourage Outdoor Play Among Children
A new playground was built at the Waxahachie Family YMCA by volunteers from Foresters Financial, KABOOM!, PHP Agency, and local community members. The project aimed to provide children with a space for physical activity and unstructured play amid rising screen time averages of up to 7.5 hours per day outside school. The playground was designed based on input from local children who contributed their ideas during a Design Day event months earlier. Features include ramps, ground-level play elements, and an accessible glider to accommodate diverse abilities. The initiative aligns with KABOOM!'s State of Our Kids Report 2026, which highlights the decline in unstructured play and physical activity among children. The report emphasizes that while screens are a natural part of childhood today, communities must also provide safe spaces for face-to-face interaction and movement. The playground is seen as one step toward achieving this balance.
Topics: child engagement playground construction volunteerism