Glendora Named One of Nation’s ‘Playful Cities’

Despite suffering major cutbacks and decreased staffing in its community services department, Glendora has been recognized as a “Playful City USA.”

With 13 city parks and over 100 children’s classes, Glendora was selected along with 151 cities nationwide for its dedication to play and children’s fitness.

The recognition was given by the Washington D.C. – based nonprofit group KaBOOM.

The 151 Playful City USA honorees range in size from five-time honorees such as Atlanta and San Francisco to first-time recipient Gypsum, Colo., which has a population of 4,000.

“An extreme misconception exists in our country that play among children is a luxury when, in fact, it’s an absolute necessity,” said Darell Hammond, KaBOOM! CEO and Co-founder. “For decades, this notion dominated our actions and we continue to see the damaging results: a monumental lack of playspaces for children and sky-rocketing childhood obesity rates. Glendora refused to adhere to the status quo and realized all children deserve a municipal commitment to the cause of play.”

With only 20 percent of cities across the nation with parks within a half-mile of neighborhoods, Glendora boasts 13 parks, including Big Dalton Park, the equestrian park and parks shared with Glendora Unified School District. The Community Services Department also served 13,298 children in summer programs during August.

However, one of the biggest rewards that comes with being named a Playful City is that it makes more grant funding available for the city’s children’s programs and activities.

According to Community Services Director La Shawn Butler, Glendora’s eligibility for recreation grant funding had been hindered by the higher income-level of it demographics. With stiff competition among cities, grants are usually awarded to cities with higher populations of low-income families, said Butler.

But as a Playful City, Glendora will be competing among the other 151 Playful Cities for grant funding. Since being named a Playful City, Glendora has applied for and was awarded a grant for two new sets of playground equipment totaling more than $11,000. The mobile playground equipment will be housed at the Youth Center and used as various community events, said Butler.

Glendora’s recognition as a Playful City USA comes at a time when the Community Services department has dealt with major cuts totaling more than $80,000 from the General Fund last year.

In the most recent round of city budget cuts, the Community Services department saw decreases in its part-time staffing.

“We have to pick and choose on programs we can offer,” said Butler.

Butler said the department’s most popular children’s programs include the preschool programs at the youth center, summer camps, teen trips and events such as Snow Day.

To be able to continue providing services to these programs, the department has had to rely on its volunteer staff.

“Doing more with less has been a common theme in our department,” said Butler.