A group of volunteers has transformed an empty site into a kid-designed, state-of-the-art playground at Cheyenne River Youth Project. In just six hours, 38 volunteers did the work so CRYP’s children now have the KaBoom play space they’ve wanted since 2015.
“Hats off to KaBoom, the Playworld staff, Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo volunteers, the United Way, LDS Church, Partnership for Native Americans, Dietel Partners, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Property and Supply, and CRST Housing Authority,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “I also want to extend a heartfelt thanks to my staff, my family members and all the community volunteers who came to help. I can’t say enough good things about you all.”
Play is essential to children’s physical, creative, cognitive, social and emotional development. CRYP has had an urgent need for this new play space at The Main, its youth center for 4- to 12-year-olds, after the facility’s aging and obsolete play equipment was removed years ago.
In April, Eagle Butte’s children came together to design what would become their dream playground. The real-life playground is based off their drawings, and it will give hundreds of Cheyenne River children an engaging, fun and safe place to play.
This playground is part of a broader effort led by Wells Fargo and KaBoom to ensure communities have great “play-ces” for kids and families. It is the first build by the partners.