Swing Forward

Today’s new stories:

1. Six-Year CUNY Study on Community Parks Initiative Finds Renovated Parks Can Uplift Neighborhoods

2. Marine science-themed playground with giant climbable fish opens in Hudson River Park

3. Lead found in soil at Trenton elementary school playground; students to be tested

4. State taking no further action on lead levels in Wappingers Falls playground

5. New Jersey Establishes Nonprofit Parks and Open Space Foundation

Citations:

https://thecitylife.org/2024/01/25/six-year-cuny-study-on-community-parks-initiative-finds-renovated-parks-can-uplift-neighborhoods-next-20-sites-announced-for-transformational-investments/

https://www.6sqft.com/marine-science-playground-opens-pier-26-hudson-river-park/

https://newjersey.news12.com/lead-found-soil-trenton-elementary-school-playground-students-to-be-tested

https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2024/01/26/no-further-action-on-lead-levels-in-wappingers-falls-playground/72354155007/

https://www.thesandpaper.net/articles/new-jersey-establishes-nonprofit-parks-and-open-space-foundation/

About Swing Forward
Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo.

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 create or transform 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that nearly 12 million kids have equitable access to the critical 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.

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with former colleague Dave Flanigan of Lappset about how his company aims to strike the right balance with playground technology and how he sees playgrounds as a platform for learning.

BIO:
Dave Flanigan is US National Sales Director for Finnish playground company Lappset Group. While his kids are getting older now, they always give him advice on what is cool on the playground! Dave is a graduate of SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, and has been a leader in the nonprofit and public sectors focusing on developing, directing and evaluating national and local programs. Most recently, Dave led programs at KABOOM! that were designed to provide equitable access to play for kids, providing over $20 million in grants to communities to bring playspaces to kids that need it most. He has taken all of his years of experience in the play sector and translated them into selling unique and innovative playgrounds.

Lappset Group:
Lappset Group provides play and sports experiences for people of all ages and abilities. The mission at Lappset is to improve the world’s well-being by creating inspiring pla(y)ces that stretch the imagination, foster learning, respect nature, and encourage activity for all humankind. Lappset’s fun, inspiring, and positively surprising facilities help people to stay active today and feel better tomorrow. Lappset’s top goal is to be its customers’ first choice by creating the greatest customer and end-user experiences. Its dream is to strengthen the heartbeat of a billion people by 2030.
LINKS:
https://www.lappset.com/en-US
https://www.lappset.com/en-US/products/product-families/lappset-interactive

About Swing Forward
Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo.

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 create or transform 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that nearly 12 million kids have equitable access to the critical 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.

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with Tom Norquist of PlayCore about how, in his words, playgrounds are the great equalizer that build empathy and compassion.
BIO:
Tom Norquist is Senior Vice President of Innovation & Business Development at PlayCore and has been involved in all aspects of the play industry for decades, including as a founding board member in 1995, past president, past treasurer, current secretary and president elect of the International Play Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (IPEMA) and long-term active American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) representative. Tom is one of few recipients of the coveted Joe L. Frost Play Research Collection National Play Advocate Award in April 2008. Additionally, Tom has led Dr. Stuart Brown’s National Institute for Play (NIFP) Board and is the project co-leader of the first known on-line database of scientific and academic research creating a cohesive picture about the proven scientific benefits of play. Tom received Auburn University’s School of Industrial and Graphic Design Distinguished Service Award for his teaching leadership. Tom is a passionate play advocate and enjoys the many fun opportunities he has created at his “Boneyard” to play outdoors with family and friends of all ages.
PlayCore:
PlayCore is a purpose driven company committed to building healthy communities around the world by advancing play and recreation. The company infuses scholarly learning, through its Center for Outreach, Research, and Education, into its comprehensive family of brands. PlayCore combines best-in-class educational programming with the most comprehensive portfolio of play and recreation products and services to create tailored environments that match the unique needs of each community served.
LINKS:
www.playcore.com

About Swing Forward
Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo.

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 create or transform 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that nearly 12 million kids have equitable access to the critical 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.

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the U.S. and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this first episode, we talk with our colleague, KABOOM! CEO Lysa Ratliff, about our mission and what brought her to this work.
Lysa Ratliff
CEO, KABOOM!
In early 2021, Lysa M. Ratliff became the newest CEO of KABOOM!, the national non-profit that works to end playspace inequity. For good.

Throughout her career, Ratliff has served as a champion for kids and their resilience, leading efforts to connect partners and make change for communities and kids across the country, and around the world. She was the Vice President of Partnership Development at KABOOM!, has held senior leadership roles at Habitat for Humanity International and Save the Children, and spent more than a decade in international marketing communications at several large corporations.

Lysa has led both public and private fundraising teams, cause marketing, and communications campaigns with large global corporations. When not spending time with her own kids and husband, Lysa enjoys all things home, with most of her playtime being spent in the garden growing organic fruits and vegetables.

About Swing Forward
Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo.

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 create or transform 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that nearly 12 million kids have equitable access to the critical 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.

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with Adam Bienenstock of Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds about his vision for biophilic cities with abundant opportunities for kids to play and how connecting kids with nature is an answer to the pressing issues of our time, from youth wellness to environmental sustainability.
BIO:
Adam Bienenstock is an internationally acclaimed designer, builder, and researcher of nature-based play spaces, and the founder of Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds. Adam has traveled globally to advocate for children’s rights to nature play and collaborate on creating spectacular natural parks and playgrounds. His resume in the natural playground industry is unparalleled; highlights include projects for the US Army, Parks Canada, and Australia, and city projects for Toronto, San Francisco, Vancouver, Calgary, New York, Austin, Denver, Chicago, and Miami. Adam lives and works at the forefront of the movement to connect children to nature. His bold, charismatic personality sets the tone for the entire company, and he’s at his happiest when he’s pushing executives, municipal managers, and educators out of their comfort zones. He sits on numerous advisory committees, including the International Association of Nature Pedagogy, Parliamentary Commission on Urban Conservation, and The Canadian Wildlife Federation. Known for his wit and humor as a public speaker, Adam invites us to shed our inhibitions and play in the mud. He's the proud husband of Jill Bienenstock and father of Sam and Leo. He sneaks off to northern Ontario when he needs to immerse himself in nature; he believes it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. As co-author of The Systematic Literature Review on Outdoor Risky Play, Adam warns us not to be fooled by the serious nature of his experience, after all, it's about inspiring play for our kids... so you can expect some playfulness and irreverence when working with him!
BIENENSTOCK NATURAL PLAYGROUNDS:
Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds was founded on the principle that children and communities thrive when they play together in rich, natural, beautiful spaces that reflect their cultural and natural heritage. Now with more than 3000 projects in 5 countries and offices in Canada and the US, BNP is recognized as the leader in authentic, sensory-rich, living playspaces for children. BNP has received numerous awards and accolades for their innovative parks and playgrounds, and their deep understanding of child development, universal accessibility, risky play, and environmental sustainability.
LINKS:
bienenstockplaygrounds.com

About Swing Forward
Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo.

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 create or transform 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that nearly 12 million kids have equitable access to the critical 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.