For the Reporter

Dr Pepper Snapple and national nonprofit KaBOOM! have awarded a $15,000 Let’s Play Community Construction Grant to the City of Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation to build a new playground at Dykstra Park.

Volunteers will build the new playground at the park, 1533 22nd St. NE, in conjunction with Clean Sweep on Saturday, April 25.

“I could not be happier after discovering this organization in Washington, D.C. several years ago,” said Mayor Nancy Backus. “Since we have been a part of the KaBOOM! Playful City USA program, the City of Auburn has been the recipient of over $120,000 from KaBOOM! and we have been able to build, rebuild or improve four parks so far.”

The grant is part of Let’s Play, a community partnership led by Dr Pepper Snapple to get kids and families active nationwide. Unstructured, child-directed play has proven to help kids develop physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually, yet today’s kids have less time and fewer opportunities to play than any previous generation.

As a result of expanded Let’s Play grants and projects, more than 1 million kids will benefit from new or improved playgrounds around the nation between 2014 and 2016.

“We will continue to work with the community to create opportunities and spaces for play to ensure that Auburn remains More Fun Than You Imagined,” said Daryl Faber, Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation director. “The City of Auburn is in the design stages of a new Youth/Teen Center and new Community Center at Les Gove Park and continues diverse recreation programming that encourages opportunities to play in Auburn.”

In 2014, the City of Auburn was designated by KaBOOM! as a Playful City USA for the sixth consecutive year and is one of only four cities in Washington to earn the designation.

To learn more, visit LetsPlay.com, Facebook.com/LetsPlay, or visit kaboom.org and www.DrPepperSnapple.com.