Jeffer's Park Playground

National non-profit KaBOOM! is honoring the City of Eau Claire with a 2017 Playful City USA designation for the 2nd time. Playful City USA honors cities and towns across the country for putting the needs of families first so kids can learn, grow and develop important life skills. Communities like ours are transforming ordinary places into playful spaces and using play as a solution to the challenges facing their residents.

The 2017 Playful City USA recognition includes 258 communities from Richmond, Virginia to Richmond, California that make it as easy as possible for kids to play. In total, these communities feature more than 14,000 safe and engaging playful spaces that serve more than 4 million kids.

Eau Claire is one of 10 cities in the state of Wisconsin that is being designated a Playful City in 2017. From the Eau Claire Children’s Museum to Fairfax Municipal Swimming Pool to City parks to the YMCA, when you think of playful spaces in the City of Eau Claire there is no shortage.

“It is great to see the positive effect play has on children, and for our City to be recognized specifically for this is a huge honor.” – Jeff Pippenger, Community Services Director

“We hope to see lots of activity outside, on our trails, in our parks, and in neighborhoods as we really live up to the playful City name.”

As cities are becoming hotbeds for innovation, communities across the country are creating inventive ways to attract and retain residents. Playful City USA honorees are taking bold action to ensure kids have great places to play – all with the ultimate goal of making play the easy choice for all kids, no matter where they live. In addition to the playground down the street, Playful City USA communities are turning grocery stores, vacant lots, crosswalks and sidewalks into opportunities for play.