Last month, more than 150 Delta Air Lines and local community volunteers came together to build Delta’s 44th KABOOM! playground and the fourth in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) area.

Last month, more than 150 Delta Air Lines and local community volunteers came together to build Delta’s 44th KABOOM! playground and the fourth in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) area. Delta partnered with the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department, Saint Paul Parks Conservancy and Summit University

 Planning Council to build a colorful new playground in Carty Park in the historic Rondo neighborhood of Saint Paul.    

“This park is special to Saint Paul for a lot of reasons given the history of where it is, which is the historic Rondo neighborhood, but it also has been a huge community builder over generations for people to gather and host events; it has a special meaning to the immediate neighborhood and this playground builds on that history,” said Andy Rodriguez, Director-Saint Paul Parks and Recreation.   

The new state-of-the-art playground replaced a nearly 30-year-old playground that could no longer be safely maintained.  The new play space is two playgrounds in one with play spaces for preschool aged children and kids up to age 12 and offers a safe, accessible place to be physically active, learn and grow for over 3,300 children in close proximity to Carty Park.  

“There’s nothing better than being able to build this playground and help the community in an area where the playground was almost nonexistent so that all the surrounding homes can have a great place to play,” said Jeannine Ashworth, Vice President of Airport Customer Service (ACS) Operations-MSP for Delta. 

During the event, neighborhood residents pitched in to assist with building the playground, pointing out how excited their families were to have a modern, walkable playground nearby. This past April, local families participated in a “Design Day” where the children got to draw their dream playground.    

“I hope the kids who designed it are thrilled when they get to see their dreams come to life.  I hope they love all the new technology, because when I was younger, we did not have playgrounds like this,” said Carrie H., an MSP-based Delta employee from In-Flight Services (IFS) who volunteered to help build the playground. "I really hope they enjoy themselves and that it brings families and communities together.”   

The playground includes two multi-dimensional play structures with slides, swings, and plenty of space for kids to explore. Following the build, a ribbon cutting was held with Delta representatives surprising the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department with a $10,000 check from the airline.   

“What fills my cup more than anything else is coming out to projects like this where people are ready to do their part and have a great time doing it, all while leaving behind not just a beautiful place to play, but all of our love and commitment poured inside of it,” said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!. 

Delta is proud to support KABOOM! in its goal to end play space inequality by uniting with communities to build intentional play spaces that spark joy and foster a sense of belonging for children who are often denied opportunities to thrive. Delta volunteers have helped build 44 KABOOM! playgrounds across the country since the partnership began in 2013.   

Related Topics: Community Engagement