2007 Playful City: Longview, Wash.

Watch Longview's video

Project Plan: Is there a better way to galvanize a community than organizing the first volunteer-built playspaces in a city? That’s the direction Longview will go with its plan: “Park Development at Village at Mt. Solo.” Longview will use the KaBOOM! grant to help fund the installation of two new playground structures. Residents from the area will participate in the design of the playspaces and provide the sweat equity to help build the playground. Several organizations from the community have also pledged financial support for the project to ensure that representatives from all aspects of the area will be involved in creating two fantastic places for children to play!

City Profile

• Population (2000): 36,767
• Population of people under age 18: 9,700
• Government: Mayor (Dennis Weber), plus a six-member City Council.
• Longview didn’t become officially incorporated until 1924 despite being first settled in the 1850s
• The city was conceived of and built entirely from funds provided by Robert A. Long – a timber magnate who wanted to move his operation from Missouri.

PCUSA Initiatives

• The city of Longview embraces a comprehensive public outreach and education program dedicated to play. Longview promotes play at key city events including the Earth Day celebration; Day of the Child; and summer concerts in the park.
  
  
• Department of Park and Recreation staff members also plan to attend business and industry employee fairs to distribute information about city play opportunities. They also will investigate collaborations with the Healthy Lifestyle Coalition and school and youth organizations. The city also plans to initiate “Get Fit Week” as part of its annual Day of Play.
  
  
• Longview currently has in place a local matching park grant program that funds the development of, and improvements to, youth athletic fields and play structures. The city is so impressed with the success of this program, they are considering raising the annual matching funds from $25,000 to $50,000 in 2008. As part of the program, residents will be involved in selecting play structures and elements of park design plans. Plans for two city parks will be finalized in 2008.
  
  
• The Department of Parks and Recreation will engage elected city officials in play activities through the mailing of quarterly brochures, board meeting reports, written status reports, and invitations to events.
  
  
• The Department of Parks and Recreation also plans to actively seek out additional financial support to enhance community play activities. To date, commitments have been secured from local citizen groups and neighborhood park grant funds.
  
  
• The city has an ongoing structure inspection program in place and will continue to investigate new funding methods for play ground capital improvements. The city’s six-year capital improvement plan calls for the development of three additional playgrounds over the next three years. Ten new playgrounds have been installed in the last 12 years.