200 Community Volunteers Build a New Playground in Hialeah

Date: 10/25/19

Ambetter from Sunshine Health and the City of Hialeah Department of Parks and Recreation partner with KaBOOM! to create a new playground at Bucky Dent Park

HIALEAH, Fla. – Oct. 25, 2019 – Today, local health insurance company Ambetter from Sunshine Health joined the City of Hialeah Department of Parks and Recreation, national nonprofit KaBOOM!, and volunteers from across Hialeah and beyond to build a new playground at Bucky Dent Park in just six hours.

More than 200 volunteers transformed the well-loved, but outdated play structure into a kid-designed, state-of-the-art play space. The new playground features slides, climbing walls, a jungle gym, and more, and it also complies with Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. The new playground enhances the range of free recreational opportunities open to the community at Bucky Dent Park, which includes a softball complex, swimming pool, splash pad, and an indoor recreation facility.

In partnership with KaBOOM!, Ambetter from Sunshine Health and the City of Hialeah Department of Parks and Recreation worked together to collect input from local youth and families on the playground design, encourage community interest and involvement and prepare for today’s build. The partnership is an extension of Ambetter from Sunshine Health’s commitment to transforming the health of the community, one person at a time, by actively participating in the community and promoting overall health and wellness.

“Active play spaces are essential to the development of children. This new playground contributes to the strength of the recreational center that is already a core centerpiece in the community,” said Gail Daley, Vice President of Operations for Ambetter from Sunshine Health. “We are proud to be part of the Hialeah community, and are thrilled to help build a new playground for children and families to enjoy for years to come.”

KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit dedicated to creating safe places to play, organized the build, which was sponsored by Ambetter from Sunshine Health and supported by the City of Hialeah Department of Parks and Recreation.

“The City of Hialeah, our Mayor, our City Council, and our residents are extremely grateful for being chosen to partner with Ambetter from Sunshine Health and KaBOOM! to bring a brand new play space to Bucky Dent Park,” said Joseph Dziedzic, director of parks and recreation, City of Hialeah. “This playground represents our community’s involvement in parks and the importance of providing access to leisure and recreational activities throughout our great city.”

This playground is part of a broader effort led by Ambetter and KaBOOM! to ensure local communities have great play spaces for kids and families to live active, healthy lives. Ambetter has previously partnered with KaBOOM! to build playgrounds in Missouri and Georgia.

“All kids deserve places to grow, explore and just be kids,” said Lysa Ratliff, vice president of partnership development, KaBOOM!. “We are grateful to our partnership with Ambetter from Sunshine Health that will help make play the easier choice for kids and families.”

About the City of Hialeah

The City of Hialeah, incorporated in 1925, is the sixth largest municipality in Florida, serving over 233,000 residents living in approximately 20-square miles. Hialeah, located in NW Miami-Dade County, has a Hispanic population of over 94%.  A working class community, Hialeah is viewed as an industrial city that continues to grow. “The City of Progress” as known to many, is home to many Cuban exiles. The City of Hialeah is a full service city offering quality and affordable services to residents of all ages and abilities. Hialeah is a vibrant, family oriented community marked by cultural heritage and traditions known for its myriad of mom and pop stores which productively compete against national retail and restaurant chains and franchises.

About Sunshine Health

Headquartered in Sunrise, Fla., Sunshine Health is among the largest healthcare plans in Florida. Offering coordinated care and a network of support for more than 1 million members, Sunshine Health is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. Sunshine Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Sunshine Health offers government-sponsored managed care through Medicaid, Long Term Care, Ambetter (Marketplace) and Allwell (Medicare). Additionally, we offer a specialty Medicaid health plan for children in or adopted from Florida’s Child Welfare system and a full pay Healthy Kids plan. For more information, visit SunshineHealth.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @SunHealthFL.

About KaBOOM!

KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – especially those living in poverty – the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play. KaBOOM! inspires communities to make play the easy choice and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of PLAYces. KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build or improve more than 17,000 playspaces, engage over 1.5 million volunteers and serve nearly 10 million kids. To learn why play matters for all kids, visit kaboom.org and join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom, facebook.com/kaboom and instagram.com/kaboom. #playmatters #PLAYceforKids