The City of Allentown is a Playful City USA community for the seventh consecutive year!

The designation, announced today, comes from KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to saving play, in partnership with the Humana Foundation. Allentown is one of 241 cities and towns across the country; and eight in Pennsylvania to earn the distinction. Allentown is among 22 communities being honored for the seventh time.

The KaBOOM! Playful City USA program, sponsored by the Humana Foundation, honors cities, towns and communities across America that are taking bold steps to ensure that all children, especially the 16 million American kids living in poverty, have easy access to balanced and active play in their communities.

“We are honored to be designated a Playful City USA community for the seventh straight year,” said Mayor Ed Pawlowski. “We continue to put an emphasis on improving our recreational activities and facilities. Our parks and playgrounds are terrific resources, and I encourage residents of all ages and abilities to visit these outdoor public spaces and enjoy them often.”

“Playability is crucial to the success of our future communities, and we are proud of the work these cities and leaders are doing to provide a better quality of life for all residents, and especially families,” says KaBOOM! President, James Siegal. “Play provides a competitive advantage for cities looking to attract and retain residents. With these esteemed leaders, and our friends and partners across the country, we continue to prioritize play for all kids.”

“Our annual Summer Playground Program has been held for over 100 years and offers tremendous opportunities for Allentown children to play in our beautiful parks and playgrounds all summer long,” said Allentown Director of Parks & Recreation Lindsay Taylor. “I’m proud to continue this tradition of engaging our residents in outdoor recreation, and I’m happy to see the City of Allentown receive this designation for the seventh consecutive year.”

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