For the eighth consecutive year, Danville has earned the designation of Playful City USA and is one of only two communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia to receive the distinction.
The KaBOOM! Playful City USA program, sponsored by the Humana Foundation, recently honored Danville along with 241 other cities, towns and counties across America that are making major efforts in making their communities more playable. Designees hail from 45 of the 50 states.
Danville was recognized for its community-wide dedication to provide play opportunities for the area.
“We are very proud of this designation,” said Bill Sgrinia, director of Parks and Recreation. “This is a community effort. It is not about our Department, it is about our community. We are a small part of what makes Danville ‘playable’ and are proud to be among many upstanding citizens and groups striving to make Danville happy and healthy.”
Annually, a team made up of individuals representing Parks and Recreation, Girl Scouts, Community Development, Danville Police Department, Danville Regional Foundation and Danville Orthopedic and Athletic Rehabilitation apply for the designation, painstakingly detailing the many ways in which the community plays.
This year, the team touted many of the new play structures in the application process.
According the application, “the City of Danville is incorporating the concept of Play Everywhere through the following infrastructure investments: Adult Play Areas next to Children’s Play Areas at Dan Daniel Park; the building of the new YMCA building adjacent to the Riverwalk Trail; the building of the Digital Dome at the Danville Science Center; and updating and/or relocating the Skate Park. Further examples of our city's infrastructure investments are the Riverwalk and mountain bike trails.”
Those elements of play infrastructure not only provide a playful atmosphere, they also help attract and retain residents, According to KaBOOM President James Siegal.
“Playability is crucial to the success of our future communities, and we are proud of the work these cities and leaders are doing to provide a better quality of life for all residents, and especially families,” Siegal stated in a release. “Play provides a competitive advantage for cities looking to attract and retain residents. With these esteemed leaders, and our friends and partners across the country, we continue to prioritize play for all kids.”
For more information, contact Sgrinia at sgrinwo@danvilleva.gov or call (434) 799-5200.