Swing Forward

Today’s new story: A Hidden Burden on Low-Income Communities That Philanthropy Can Help Fix Citations: https://www.philanthropy.com/article/a-hidden-burden-on-low-income-communities-that-philanthropy-can-help-fix About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo. About KABOOM! KABOOM! is th...

Today’s new story: City of New Orleans Unveils “The Big Green Easy” Parks Plan Citations: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/LANOLA/bulletins/38b69b7 About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo. About KABOOM! KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ending playspace inequi...

Today’s new story: Mankato and Mdewakanton Dakota Unite for Cultural Playground: Public Feedback Sought Citations: https://bnnbreaking.com/world/us/mankato-and-mdewakanton-dakota-unite-for-cultural-playground-public-feedback-sought About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo. About KA...

Today’s new story: St. Paul City Council passes $45.1 million in street, park improvements through new sales tax Citations: https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/st-paul-city-council-funds-45-1-million-in-street-park-improvements-through-new-sales-tax/ About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal an...

Today’s new story: NRPA Launches Sustainability in Practice Cohort Program Citations: https://www.nrpa.org/blog/nrpa-launches-sustainability-in-practice-cohort-program/ About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo. About KABOOM! KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ending pla...

Today’s new story: Pepsico’s Gatorade introduces ‘Turf Finder’ initiative Citations: https://www.financialexpress.com/business/brandwagon-pepsicos-gatorade-introduces-turf-finder-initiative-3410114/ About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo. About KABOOM! KABOOM! is the national non...

Today’s new story: Twice-Displaced Ukrainian Family Thrives in Bohuslav, Establishes Businesses and Kids' Playground BLOOM Charity mobilizes in crisis situations Citations: https://bnnbreaking.com/world/ukraine/twice-displaced-ukrainian-family-thrives-in-bohuslav-establishes-businesses-and-kids-playground https://bloomcharity.org/mobilizing-for-palestine/ About Swing Forward Swing Forward is...

Today’s new stories: Governor Sanders announces $4.34 million to support local recreation facilities Citations: https://www.kait8.com/2024/02/20/governor-sanders-announces-434-million-support-local-recreation-facilities/ About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo. About KABOOM! KABOO...

Today’s new story: Dallas voters could weigh in on $1.25 billion bond package as soon as May Citations: https://www.keranews.org/news/2024-02-13/dallas-voters-could-weigh-in-on-1-25-billion-bond-package-as-soon-as-may About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo. About KABOOM! KABOOM!...

Today’s new stories: 1. Climate change is making it more dangerous for kids to play outside, report finds Citations: https://thehill.com/policy/equilibrium-sustainability/4456878-climate-change-is-making-it-more-dangerous-for-kids-to-play-outside-report-finds/ About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Si...

Today’s new stories: 1. Gov. Pritzker, IDNR announce $54.9M in grants for 111 local park and recreation projects Citations: https://www.wandtv.com/news/gov-pritzker-idnr-announce-54-9m-in-grants-for-111-local-park-and-recreation-projects/article_90ba2614-bfa2-11ee-8619-abd6e5c95ad1.html About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace eq...

Today’s new stories: 1. Temporary Lahaina school to receive world-class playground 2. At FDR Park’s new playground, designers say being a little scared is kind of the point Citations: https://mauinow.com/2024/02/09/temporary-lahaina-school-to-receive-world-class-playground/ https://www.inquirer.com/life/fdr-park-new-playground-swings-20240210.html About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast ser...

Today’s new stories: 1. US cities’ outlook for 2024 2. To Help Grantees Win Infrastructure Dollars, Business as Usual Won’t Cut It Citations: https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/smart-cities-trends-outlook-2024/706060/ https://www.philanthropy.com/article/to-help-grantees-win-infrastructure-dollars-business-as-usual-wont-cut-it About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on...

Today’s new stories: 1. Six-Year CUNY Study on Community Parks Initiative Finds Renovated Parks Can Uplift Neighborhoods 2. Marine science-themed playground with giant climbable fish opens in Hudson River Park 3. Lead found in soil at Trenton elementary school playground; students to be tested 4. State taking no further action on lead levels in Wappingers Falls playground 5. New Jersey Establishes...

Today’s new stories: 1. Lincoln to upgrade playgrounds using Land and Water Conservation Fund grant 2. Lilly Endowment commits $80 million for improvements to Indianapolis parks 3. Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Awards $20.6 Million in Local Park Grants 4. 6 new parks coming to Denver neighborhoods 5. KABOOM! Senior Advisor Isaac Castillo discusses our Playspace Inequity Prioritization Index...

Today’s new story: 1. Joya Playground lights up Farmers Branch, TX Citations: https://kkyr.com/amazing-glow-in-the-dark-playground-opens-in-texas/ https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/glow-in-the-dark-playground-opens-in-farmers-branch/3440389/ About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo...

Today’s new stories: 1. Punk Kid Sets up Sharpie Tattoo Shop in Playground Tunnel Citations: https://thehardtimes.net/culture/punk-kid-sets-up-sharpie-tattoo-shop-in-playground-tunnel/ About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo. About KABOOM! KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committ...

Today’s new stories: 1. Stockton, CA residents demand more places to play 2. Parents and librarians debate the value of playgrounds at libraries 3. 77 schools in Dakshina Kannada lack playgrounds 4. Start-ups form the Decarbonized Cement and Concrete Alliance (DC2) Citations: https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/politics/government/2024/01/15/stockton-moves-forward-with-inclusive-playground/721969...

Today’s new stories: 1. Budget cuts in Massachusetts impact funding for local playspace projects 2. Cleveland parks and rec master-planning process reveals need for prioritizing maintenance 3. Concerns raised over environmental and public health effects of poured-in-place surfacing 4. New natural playground comes to Cambridge, NZ 5. Bangladesh Minister for Youth and Sports calls for more open play...

Today’s new stories: 1. Illinois announces $28M for public recreation projects 2. Colorado continues to use lottery revenue to fund outdoor recreation 3. Teens caught on video vandalizing Tennessee playground 4. Stockton to replace playground in park that was the site of a fatal shooting Citations: https://www.einpresswire.com/article/680425756/28-million-awarded-for-local-park-and-recreational-fa...

Today’s new stories: 1. NRPA issues report on economic impact of parks and recreation Citations: https://www.nrpa.org/EconomicImpact/ About Swing Forward Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo. About KABOOM! KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ending playspace inequity – the reality that...

Today’s new stories: 1. NYS gets disaster fund to build new playgrounds and prepare park for next extreme weather event 2. Ohio to convert 6 abandoned mines into recreation areas 3. Milwaukee public schools converting asphalt schoolyards to green infrastructure 4. Gun rights advocates challenge New Mexico Governor’s emergency orders temporarily banning firearms at playgrounds and parks Citations:...

Today’s new stories: 1. Napa resident complains about use of public art funds for playground 2. Westfield, MA City Council rejects use of Community Preservation Act funds for elementary school playground 3. NYC opens new park in East New York Citations: https://napavalleyregister.com/opinion/letters/letter-public-art-funds-shouldnt-be-spent-on-playgrounds/article_1171fd36-a112-11ee-b3fa-ff13a386f5...

Today’s new stories: 1. California announces new grants for outdoor recreation spaces 2. Baltimore uses $5M of ARPA funding for new playspaces 3. Wind turbines being repurposed as playgrounds Citations: https://www.oakdaleleader.com/news/california-parks-grants-expand-outdoor-access-across-state/ https://mayor.baltimorecity.gov/news/press-releases/2023-12-14-city-utilizing-arpa-funding-upgrade-sev...

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we welcome back our CEO Lysa Ratliff to recap the first season and talk about topics we plan to cover going forward. BIO: In early 2021, Lysa M. Ratliff became...