This month, KaBOOM!, in partnership with the Humana Foundation, announced 212 cities and towns across the United States as 2014 Playful City USA honorees. These communities are leaders in playability – the extent to which a city makes it easy for kids to get balanced and active play – and are making play part of the solution that can move the needle on countless urban challenges.

The City of North Port was honored as a 2014 Playful City USA designation for the fifth consecutive year. North Port is home to 26 parks and recreational facilities spread over approximately 400 acres of land. The City has a Playful City USA Committee that meets to discuss ways its Parks and Recreation Division can encourage play. Each year, a special Play Day is hosted in the community in celebration of play.

The North Port City Commission has placed emphasis on park improvements throughout recent years, as well. Many of North Port's playground equipment is less than five years old. The City has been adding amenities to its local parks. Signage, landscaping, and other park improvements also have been completed in recent years. Last year, the City began a “Park of the Month” program to highlight the different parks and encourage more visitors to explore them.

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. Cities being recognized span every region of the country, and include Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Nashville; Austin; Providence; San Francisco; New York City; and 205 others.

“With the tremendous support of our friends at Humana Foundation, we are thrilled to recognize all of these communities that are working to ensure all kids, particularly the 16 million that live in poverty, get the play they need to thrive,” says KaBOOM! CEO and Founder Darell Hammond.

Humana President and CEO Bruce Broussard added, “We’re excited about our journey with KaBOOM! and we appreciate the shared values that Humana, the Humana Foundation, and the KaBOOM! organization can rally around. Making it easy for families to play, be healthy and thrive together is a part of Humana’s dream, and it’s a commitment that all of us at Humana enjoy sharing with KaBOOM!.”

The Playful City USA honorees range in size from eight-time honorees such as San Francisco and Shirley, Mass., to first-time recipients Washington, D.C. and Plantersville, Miss. (population: 1,174). These Playful City USA communities are making a commitment to transform their communities to become more playable by developing unique local action plans to increase the quantity and quality of play in their community.

For more information, please contact Erin Bryce, Community Outreach Manager, (941) 429-7165 office, ebryce@cityofnorthport.com