$2.1 million in grant funds will be made available during the next three years as part of the Playful City USA program. KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to saving play, created the Playful City USA program in 2007 to help local governments address the Play Deficit by ensuring their children have the time and space they need to play and to be active and healthy. Playful City USA is a national recognition program honoring cities and towns that make play a priority and use innovative new programs to get children playing outdoors more.

A total of 103 grants worth $2.1 million are available to Playful City USA recognized cities and towns between 2011-13. Grants range in values of $30,000, $20,000 and $15,000 and will be awarded to existing Playful City USA communities as well as communities receiving Playful City USA recognition for the first time. The $30,000 and $15,000 grants are available for projects relating to joint-use agreements and the $20,000 grants will be awarded to cities using the community playground build process. Cities also are eligible to receive multiple grants during the three-year period.