LOCATION: Williams Park, 4362 E Osborne Ave, Tampa, FL 33610
Representatives from City of Tampa, Hancock Whitney and KABOOM! will offer remarks at ribbon-cutting ceremony and will also be available for questions.
Volunteers from Tampa and Hancock Whitney are constructing a kid-designed playground at Williams Park in North Tampa to ensure kids have a safe, inclusive place to play. This is part of a nationwide effort by KABOOM! to end playspace inequity –the reality that places to play are not available to every child, especially in communities of color. This project will provide a state-of-the-art playground to more than 1,000 children each year.
Community members led the creation of the playground, from design to installation. In July, kids from the local community center shared drawings of their dream playspaces with project organizers. These ideas were integrated into the new playground design.
"It's absolutely incredible when so many volunteers from the local community work together for a common purpose. It is critical that the children in every neighborhood have access to a great, safe place to play, learn and grow," said Sherisha Hills, Director of Tampa Parks and Recreation. "We are thankful to Kaboom, Hancock Whitney and all our community partners that have helped make this possible. We know that when the community is invested and involved in the process, the ownership over their space is that much greater."
The project is a part of Hancock Whitney’s ongoing commitment to create opportunities for people and the communities the bank serves. Hancock Whitney—one of the strongest, safest banks in the country—believes kids can be the catalyst to building stronger communities. This investment aims to enhance the physical, mental and financial health of children and their families and empower local children to achieve the futures they deserve. Supporting the bank’s commitment to financial education, the playspace incorporates basic math and financial literacy concepts into playful learning experiences.
About the City of Tampa
Tampa Parks & Recreation is an NRPA Gold Medal recipient and CAPRA accredited agency with a mission to provide and preserve quality parks and recreation opportunities for all. With almost 400,000 residents, Tampa is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation that strives to protect the natural environment while creatively using resources to meet the growing needs of our community. Operating in a highly urbanized environment, we are dedicated to offering safe spaces that are conveniently accessible to all residents. The City of Tampa is fully committed to providing equitable access to the City’s facilities, programs and recreation opportunities. Our vision is a city that fosters people of all means and abilities. With continued support from trusted partners and local community participation, we look forward to continuing to offer new, fun, and educational recreation opportunities throughout our community.
About Hancock Whitney
Since the late 1800s, Hancock Whitney has embodied core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability, Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility. Hancock Whitney offices and financial centers in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas offer comprehensive financial products and services, including traditional and online banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust and investment services; healthcare banking; certain insurance services; and mortgage services. The company also operates a loan production office in Nashville, Tennessee. More information is available at www.hancockwhitney.com.
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 build or improve 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that nearly 12 million kids have equitable access to the crucial benefits and opportunities that playspaces offer. In 2022, KABOOM! launched the 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity, the $250 million plan 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.