Disneyland Resort, VoluntEARS Build 12th Anaheim Park

ANAHEIM, CA — More than 300 volunteers from the Disneyland Resort, City of Anaheim and the Anaheim Family YMCA joined KaBOOM! to build a playground in just six hours at Julianna Park in Anaheim at the end of September.

The playground marks the 12th Disney-sponsored KaBOOM! playground in Anaheim, the Julianna Park completes the 12 playground commitment that Disneyland Resort made with the city. Over the summer, children imagined their ideal playground at Julianna Park. The new playground is based on their drawings and provides more than 1,500 kids in Anaheim with a great, safe place to play.

Workers used sweat equity to put that dream of a playground into solid, working order. They moved mounds of clean fiber shavings, erected rock climbing walls and hundreds of pieces of playground equipment.

According to the minds of Disney, play is the business of childhood and is essential to the physical, cognitive, creative, social and emotional development of every child.

With that in mind, dozens of Disneyland Resort executives and SALUTE, Disney’s business-employee resource group that supports veterans as they transition to civilian life, all worked together to build the playground to the tunes of the 300th Army Band, who lent their musical prowess during the event.

The playground will have a lasting impact for families in this neighborhood, Josh D’Amaro, president of the Disneyland Resort said. “I am also incredibly thankful to have such amazing partners with the city of Anaheim, the Anaheim Family YMCA and KaBOOM!”

The playground was the start of a complete transformation for Julianna Park. Plans for a new basketball court, exercise equipment and picnic and multipurpose areas are in the works, with the second phase of the park renovation expected to begin construction in November.

Anaheim's mayor Harry Sidhu spoke of the work, congratulating Disneyland Resort for their ongoing investment in the city of Anaheim.

"The playground will make a big difference for Anaheim families," Sidhu said.

The dozen KaBOOM! playgrounds show that Walt Disney's original theme park in our city benefits all Anaheim residents.

"The Anaheim Family YMCA is grateful for the collaboration between the city of Anaheim, Disney and KaBOOM!," said Dr. Rick Martens, president, and CEO, Anaheim Family YMCA. "We were able to turn children's vision into reality. We know it will impact thousands of kids and families within this community, furthering our mission to build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all."

Since 1996, KaBOOM! has been dedicated to the goal that all kids get the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play. KaBOOM! works to accelerate efforts that move every kid in America to play every day.

Together, Disney and KaBOOM! have built more than 80 new play spaces across America, giving nearly 100,000 kids access to healthier lifestyles and safe places to play and grow.