KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit helping build and improve play spaces since 1996, has awarded 258 communities with the 2017 Playful City USA recognition. 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. These communities 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 family-friendly communities from Richmond, Va., to Richmond, Calif., that make it as easy as possible for kids to play. In total, these communities feature more than 14,000 safe and engaging playspaces that serve more than 4 million kids.

"We are thrilled to recognize these communities for putting kids first," said KaBOOM! CEO James Siegal. "The well-being of our communities starts with the well-being of our kids, and play is critical for them to thrive. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all kids get the childhood they deserve filled with play."

While they vary in size and geography, these communities are all engaging their citizens to reimagine cities with kids in mind. Each community has found unique ways to integrate play as a solution to a number of urgent challenges plaguing our society in ways that benefit kids growing up in poverty.

To see the full list of Playful City USA communities visit, kaboom.org/playfulcityusa.