Last month, Delta Air Lines, along with over 150 volunteers from the local community, completed their 44th KABOOM! playground. This marks the fourth playground in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) area. The project was a collaboration between Delta and several local organizations including the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department, Saint Paul Parks Conservancy, and Summit University Planning Council. The new playground is located in Carty Park within the historic Rondo neighborhood of Saint Paul.
Andy Rodriguez, Director of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, highlighted the significance of the park to the community: “This park is special to Saint Paul for a lot of reasons given the history of where it is… it has a special meaning to the immediate neighborhood and this playground builds on that history.”
The newly built state-of-the-art playground replaces an almost 30-year-old structure that was no longer safe. It features two play areas designed for preschool children and those up to age 12. Over 3,300 children living near Carty Park now have access to this safe and accessible space for physical activity.
Jeannine Ashworth, Vice President of Airport Customer Service Operations-MSP for Delta stated: “There’s nothing better than being able to build this playground and help the community in an area where the playground was almost nonexistent so that all the surrounding homes can have a great place to play.”
Local residents contributed by assisting with construction efforts during a neighborhood event. Earlier in April, families participated in a “Design Day” where children could envision their dream playgrounds. Carrie H., an MSP-based Delta employee from In-Flight Services who volunteered at the event said: “I hope they love all the new technology because when I was younger, we did not have playgrounds like this.”
The finished playground includes slides, swings, and various play structures providing ample space for exploration. Following its completion, Delta representatives held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and presented a $10,000 check to support future initiatives.
Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!, remarked on her experience: “What fills my cup more than anything else is coming out to projects like this… leaving behind not just a beautiful place to play but all of our love and commitment poured inside of it.”
Delta has been supporting KABOOM!’s mission since 2013 by building intentional play spaces across America aimed at reducing play space inequality.
