St. Charles Park District Donates Two Playgrounds to Help Children in Need

The St. Charles Park District has donated two playgrounds to Kids Around the World (KIDS). These playgrounds, which were removed by KIDS volunteers earlier this week, will be refurbished and sent to a place where they will have a new life giving joy to children in need for many years to come.

The District has plans to install new playground equipment at Moody Park at Moody and South Third Streets and at the Kane/Woodlawn Playground at Kane and Maple Avenues.

Rather that removing the existing playgrounds and destroying them, the District instead opted to donate the playgrounds for the benefit of children in other countries who are living in difficult circumstances, and for whom the gift of a playground will mean so much.

“We are so thankful to the St. Charles Park District for understanding the importance of play for children and for their commitment to making a difference in our global communities,” said Jim Rosene, President of Kids Around the World.

Kids Around the world will work with its international partners around the world to find a home for the playgrounds where they will help children to develop physical, social, emotional and cognitive skills that will help them grow. More importantly, these playgrounds will provide children who have known nothing but poverty, disease and war a safe place to simply “be a kid.”

Founded in Rockford, Ill., in 1994, Kids Around the World has built playgrounds for children in more than 50 countries. KIDS also provides nutritious meals and teacher training throughout the world. Reaching its 100th playground in 2008, it has achieved playground No. 250 in only four years.

SOURCE: St. Charles Park District