On Saturday, Sept. 27, more than 100 Delta employee and local community volunteers, including the Seattle Seahawks, came together to build Delta’s 45th KABOOM! playground and sixth in the Seattle area.
On Saturday, Sept. 27, more than 100 Delta employee and local community volunteers, including the Seattle Seahawks, came together to build Delta’s 45th KABOOM! playground and sixth in the Seattle area. Delta partnered with the City of Tukwila’s Parks and Recreation Department to build a new playspace in Duwamish Park, a diverse and vibrant community in Washington. The new playspace will serve over 800 community children.
“This playground is going to be a canvas for dreams as kids come here and enjoy the relaxation that play gives them. It all starts here,” said Tukwila’s Mayor Thomas McLeod. The City of Tukwila provided additional support to make this playground one of the biggest Delta has completed.
“It takes a village to build something to move forward, and we’re very fortunate to have partners like KABOOM! see that and align with the visions we have together to support our community,” said Joan Wang, Managing Director of Global Sales-SEA for Delta.
During the event, neighborhood residents pitched in to assist with the playground build, pointing out how excited their families were to have a modern, walkable playground nearby. This past June, local families participated in a Design Day where the children got to draw their dream playground.
In addition to over 80 Delta employees in attendance, 10 SkyMiles customers volunteered their time to help make the new playground a reality.
“When I think about this playground, I remember my own childhood -- I think about the friendships I made and the imaginations we were able to have. I hope the kids here can see that their imagination came to life,” said Jamilian K., a member of Delta’s SkyMiles Life Facebook group.
Delta also included its partner the Seattle Seahawks in the day’s fun. NFL Legend Garry Gilliam Jr., had this to say about being a part of build day, “When the kids come here for the first time, I know they will definitely be excited, and they’ll be very curious and grateful to all the people who put the work in to build it for them.”
The dynamic new playground includes play structures with slides, swings, a zip line, a climbing wall and plenty of space for kids to explore. Following the build, a ribbon cutting was held with Delta representatives surprising the City of Tukwila Parks and Recreation Department with a $10,000 check from the airline.
“Delta is the first airline to meet the 100-year milestone, and I can see why. Delta has worked with KABOOM! since 2013, and when they commit to something, they really commit to it!” said Lysa Ratliff, Chief Executive Officer 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 45 KABOOM! playgrounds across the country since the partnership began in 2013.
Related Topics: Community Engagement, KaBOOM!, Seattle
