PLAYGROUND INITIATIVE
In celebration of Cesar Chavez Day 2008, First Lady Maria Shriver and CaliforniaVolunteers have built 10 more community play spaces that will serve thousands of children. Assisted by over 3,000 volunteers, the initial build took place today, March 19, with the remaining nine builds on March 29.
“I am thrilled that together with CaliforniaVolunteers WE are building a safe and inspiring place for children to play while at the same time teaching them the immeasurable lesson of service,” said Maria Shriver. “I can't think of a better way to celebrate the life and legacy of Cesar E. Chavez than to pass on his message of service and selflessness to the children of our communities.”
The Cesar Chavez Day holiday was established in 2000 to honor the life of labor leader Cesar E. Chavez. CaliforniaVolunteers administers the Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning program which includes the play ground initiative, as well as the formation of after school service clubs for middle school students and curriculum development to integrate lessons regarding Chavez’s life into school day and after school activities. Key partners include KaBOOM!, Youth Serve California and the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation; both Youth Serve California and the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation have taken a lead role in developing curricula and other learning materials that will be utilized throughout the state.
“The fact that these wonderful new play spaces were designed and built by members of the community will ensure that Cesar Chavez’s life long crusade of community involvement will continue to have a voice for many years to come,” said Karen Baker, secretary of service and volunteering. “CaliforniaVolunteers is honored to lead this statewide community-based effort.”
The ten play space initiative was launched by Maria Shriver at the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust (South Los Angeles) on March 19. The remaining nine builds occurred on March 29 at:
- Lytle Creek Park (San Bernardino)
- Hammond Park (Eureka)
- Alta Mesa Park (Redding)
- Jerome Park (Santa Ana)
- Linscott Charter School (Watsonville)
- Rainbow Recreation Center (Oakland)
- Coachella Housing Coalition (North Shore, Riverside County)
- City of Modesto Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department (Modesto)
- Riverview Elementary School (Lakeside, San Diego County).
In honor of Chavez’s commitment to community building and service, all aspects of the builds will have heavy community involvement. Committees comprised of local children, teachers and parents have organized volunteer recruitment, site preparation and safety/logistics for each of the builds. Planning for the playgrounds began in February, when children from each community met with organizers from KaBOOM! and CaliforniaVolunteers to draw their “dream” play spaces. The children’s drawings were used to create the final play space designs. Children have participated in a series of lessons regarding Chavez’s life that will culminate the day of the build. To make sure that the play space is a lasting monument to Chavez’s teachings, a unique mural will be painted at each site. Community volunteers will also build picnic tables, benches, shade structures and take part in landscaping projects.
At the 2007 Cesar Chavez Day celebration, 10 playgrounds were build at the following sites:
- Watts Labor Community Action Committee (Los Angeles)
- Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School (San Francisco)
- Cordova Meadows Elementary School (Rancho Cordova)
- Del Rey Boys and Girls Club (Del Rey)
- Romain Park - skate park (Fresno)
- Mecca Community Center (Mecca)
- Franklin Elementary School (Redlands)
- La Union del Pueblo Entero (Salinas)
- Mayfair Head Start (San Jose)
- MAAC Project (San Diego)
