The City of Rochester, Healthi Kids, and KABOOM! continue partnership to transform playscapes with community build at West High Field
The City of Rochester, Healthi Kids, and KABOOM! today celebrated the new community-built playground at West High Field, 200 Arnett Blvd, which will be open to the public in the coming weeks. The playground has been made possible with support from Davenport-Hatch Foundation, ESL Federal Credit Union, Kindling Impact Foundation, M&T Bank, Wegmans, and the William & Sheila Konar Foundation, and is part of a multi-year public-private partnership to build and renovate playspaces across Rochester with the vision of ensuring access to children of all abilities in neighborhoods across Rochester.
The partnership began with a community-built playground at the Thomas P. Ryan R-Center last year. Like the Ryan R-Center project, the West High Field project incorporates input from youth, families, and neighbors, and relies on teams of volunteer builders, ensuring the playspace involves and reflects the community.
“Places to play are essential infrastructure, where children and families meet friends and neighbors and form the fabric of our community,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “I thank our partners KABOOM! and Healthi Kids, as well as all of the organizations who have supported this vision of welcoming, accessible play. When we invest in play, we invest in the future of our city.”
Beyond playground equipment, partners consider how children and caregivers enter and move through each space, the variety of ways children can play, and how each playspace will improve kids’ physical health, mental health, and other developmental outcomes.
"Transformative, citywide change is only possible when public and private partners come together around a shared commitment to our kids," said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!. "Play is not a luxury; it's foundational to all children’s social, emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Together with our partners in Rochester, we are building playspaces that will give every child the chance to grow up happy, healthy, and equipped to reach their full potential."
Healthi Kids, an initiative of Common Ground Health, brings its experience working with Rochester children, families, and community advocates to help center local voices and children’s well-being in the partnership.
“Children and caregivers know what helps them feel welcome in a place to play—and what keeps them away,” said Stephanie David, Director of Early Childhood Policy at Common Ground Health and Director of Healthi Kids. “Their experiences should shape these spaces from the beginning. We’re excited to help bring those voices into the conversation so that inclusive play reflects what all Rochester families actually need.”
Partners will share more about future projects as locations and plans are confirmed.