KABOOM!

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KABOOM! Spaces to play. Sparks for change. Our mission: End playspace inequity. For good.

We amplify the power of communities to build inspiring playspaces that spark unlimited opportunities for every kid, everywhere.

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we celebrate our partnership with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community — and lifts up th...
10/12/2026

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we celebrate our partnership with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community — and lifts up the powerful essay their leaders contributed to our State of Our Kids Report.

SMSC Vice-Chairwoman Natasha Hacker and Secretary & Treasurer Ashley Cornforth write with clarity and conviction about what Native children are facing — and what traditional Indigenous values offer not just to Native communities, but to all of us navigating a world that has made childhood harder than it has ever been.

Their argument is both an honest reckoning and a source of profound hope:

Native American children currently face the most difficult conditions of any kids in America — the worst health disparities, the least access to quality nutrition, schools, health care, and playspaces, and a cultural identity that has been systematically ignored and suppressed for generations.

And yet the traditional values that survived every attempt at erasure — respect for elders, connection to the natural world, humility, generosity — are actively being used to rebuild something essential. Re-Indigenizing life is restoring health, identity, and hope to a new generation of Native children.

That is sovereignty in practice. And it is one of the most compelling models of community-led healing in our State of Our Kids Report.

KABOOM! is honored to partner with SMSC in this work — and to amplify their voice today and every day.

🔗 Read the full essay: https://bit.ly/4hJV54o

10/11/2026

Happy 30th birthday to us! 🎉💜

Every great celebration needs great people, and for 30 years we've been lucky to share ours with community members, volunteers, corporate partners, and advocates. Together, we've built parks and playspaces where kids get to experience the joy of play.

As we blow out the candles, we're celebrating with Leah Drew, a former KABOOM! Account Manager, who shares why parks and recreation spaces matter so much. 🎥

10/10/2026

For 30 years, KABOOM! has built more than playgrounds. 💜

We've built joy, and places where kids and communities feel seen and heard.

That's why we're proud to partner with National Youth Leadership Council - NYLC, which empowers young people to use their voices, strengthen their communities, and lead meaningful change.

Hear from their CEO, Amy Meuers, as she shares a special message in honor of our 30th year.

10/10/2026

Our past Boomers don't stop championing kids when they leave KABOOM!. For so many of them, that commitment lasts a lifetime.
Aisha Alexander-Young is one of them. In this video, she reflects on the work she led here and the real difference it made in kids' lives. 🎥

One of our favorite moments at in Philadelphia? Our partnership breakfast. 💜For 30 years, partnerships have propelled ...
10/08/2026

One of our favorite moments at in Philadelphia? Our partnership breakfast. 💜

For 30 years, partnerships have propelled the KABOOM! mission forward. Over breakfast with parks and rec leaders, we celebrated the partners who have gone above and beyond to make that progress possible and presented Spark Awards to four of them:

✨ Baltimore Recnparks
✨ Department of Parks and Recreation Pr. Geo. County
✨ Children & Nature Network
✨ Landscape Structures Inc.

Each of these partners helps us create safe spaces where kids can enjoy the benefits and joy of play, and we're so grateful to work alongside them. Congratulations! And double congratulations to Baltimore City Recreation and Parks on winning the NRPA Gold Award! 🏆

Creating places to play only happens because of the power of partnership. It takes all of us.

Our team is still reeling in the excitement of what happened this year at in Philadelphia!Thank you to National Recrea...
10/08/2026

Our team is still reeling in the excitement of what happened this year at in Philadelphia!

Thank you to National Recreation and Park Association for creating a space for KABOOM! and all who appreciate parks to gather and connect on the what's in store for the future of parks.

To our co-presenters at the National Youth Leadership Council - NYLC, National Recreation and Park Association, Baltimore Recnparks, Parks & People, and every parks and rec professional who stopped by Booth #2149, our partnership breakfast, or any of our four sessions: Thank you.

Thank you to Playworld + Earthscape Play for letting us install Eco-Counter motion sensors on your exhibitor booth playgrounds so we could show how we are able to track visits to playgrounds.

This was our first time having an exhibitor booth, which was a great way to connect with so many people in the parks field. We also hosted a partnership breakfast, where we recognized the parks systems that are helping to propel our mission forward, and led four conference sessions on playground use data and measurement, the importance of youth engagement, and the power of partnership in Baltimore to accelerate progress citywide.

But what stays with us most are the conversations and so many of you sharing how a KABOOM! playground build sparked your career path into parks and recreation, and that humbles us. This work matters because of you.

reminded us that creating safe spaces where kids can enjoy the benefits and joy of play only happens because of the power of partnerships — it takes all of us.

Houston may be a year away, but please connect with anyone from KABOOM! you met at NRPA, so we don't have to wait a year to keep the conversation going.

10/08/2026

For three decades, we've built playspaces that spark joy, bring communities together, and open up brighter futures for kids.
But this milestone isn't just about looking back. It's about what comes next, and we want you to help shape it.

Kids need places to play now more than ever. Play builds strong bodies, healthy minds, and the social and emotional skills kids carry for life. And too many kids still don't have a great place to play close to home.

Help us protect and create the spaces every kid deserves. Give today to the Unlocking Possibilities Fund. Visit https://bit.ly/4suuAmk.

At KABOOM!, our work to build vibrant neighborhoods and address the social determinants of health relies on accurate fed...
10/06/2026

At KABOOM!, our work to build vibrant neighborhoods and address the social determinants of health relies on accurate federal census data. When the government proposes removing or limiting critical questions on race, ethnicity, and community demographics, it directly harms communities of color and the neighborhoods that need public investment the most.

KABOOM! has officially filed public comments opposing proposed changes to the decennial census questionnaire—and we need you on the record before the October 13 deadline.

Take action in 2 simple steps:

1. Visit our website, https://bit.ly/4zlTSq4, to read KABOOM!’s formal comments on our Policy & Advocacy page.
2. Use the direct button on our page to jump straight to the federal comment form (Docket No. USBC-2026-0628).

Every comment must be officially reviewed and logged on the record. Head to our website to get started!

10/05/2026

🎥 A special message from Baltimore

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has been a strong advocate for playspace equity and creating opportunities for youth to have a stronger start in life. The shifts he’s making in Baltimore to prioritize parks and recreation and safety as a public health issue are making the city a better place for kids and families to live and enjoy.

We are appreciative of his support of KABOOM! over the years and for recently sharing a special message celebrating our 30th Anniversary in honor of the transformational work we've done together in Baltimore. Together we have built 27 playgrounds and we won't stop until every kid in Baltimore can experience the joy and all of the benefits of having places to play.

To learn more about our work in Baltimore, check out our video and case study about our work to address playspace inequity with Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore Recnparks, and Parks & People. https://bit.ly/4qmRf2s

10/02/2026

When our CEO, Lysa Ratliff, went on vacation this summer, KABOOM! left a few very enthusiastic mini CEOs in charge. 💜

They helped us kick off our 30th birthday month, and you can join in by starting a Birthday Club fundraiser to bring great places to play to more kids. Be inspired by our youngest to get involved! https://bit.ly/47vib8O

Address

Bethesda, MD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 5:30pm
Friday 9am - 5:30pm

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+12026590215

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