City of Columbia Recognized as 2015 Playful City USA Community
June 18, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – The City of Columbia is being honored with a 2015 Playful City USA designation for the second time by KaBOOM!. In partnership with the Humana Foundation, KaBOOM! is honoring cities, towns and counties across the country for making their communities more playable.
“From supporting Let’s Move! Columbia and the Congaree River Blue Trail to investing in youth sports and creating our Back-to-School Drills & Skills Clinic, we’ve worked very hard to help make ours a truly engaged, energetic and active community,” said Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin. “This honor is further proof that the hard work is paying off and we couldn’t be more proud.”
The City of Columbia is among 241 cities and towns across the United States that received the 2015 Playful City USA designation. These communities are leaders in playability – the extent to which a city makes it easy for kids to get balanced and active play – and are making play part of the solution that can move the needle on countless urban challenges.
“The City of Columbia is honored to be named a Playful City USA Community for the second year in a row. The City is committed to providing recreational programs, events and services for our citizens that encourage all to be active and to play and grow together.”
“We are proud to have our efforts recognized on a national level and encourage citizens to take advantage of the many opportunities in the City that are available in our parks and recreation facilities,” City Manager Teresa Wilson said.
The City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department operates and maintains 60 city parks and green spaces, 600 acres of city-maintained park land, 55 tennis courts and 16 city pools, spray pads and ponds. All city parks are open year-round from dawn to dusk with no entrance fees.
The Parks and Recreation Department provides a variety of programming from athletics and cultural arts to health and wellness and special events.
To see the full list of the 241 communities named 2015 Playful City USA honorees, or for more information on the Playful City USA program, please visit www.playfulcityusa.org.
For more information about the City of Columbia’s parks, recreation centers and programs, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 803-545-3100.
