Playing in the street is usually something people try and prevent their
kids from doing.
But, the new Play Streets program coming to Buffalo will allow kids to
play in the street safely with lots of fun activities.
Buffalo has recently received a $50,000 grant that will create several
Play Streets around the city between May and September of 2013, including a
proposed location at the corner of Grant Street and Forest Avenue.
The Play Streets program closes down streets for a few hours and opens
that space up to the community to encourage physical activity with a variety of
games and activities.
“There is going to be different hubs with all different kinds of
physical activities,” said Henry Raess, Play Streets Coordinator at GO Bike
Buffalo. “Activities like sports, games, learning different styles of dance,
music and entertainment and also participatory activities like chalk drawing.”
Districts on the West Side have been looking for ways to
provide safer spaces for kids to play and this program will be a great help to
the area, said Sean Mulligan, legislative aid to council member David Rivera.
“We
don’t have many places where kids can congregate and play,” said Mulligan. “So
we’re excited to see that this opportunity potentially will be available on the
West Side.”
Obesity
rates in the U.S. have tripled in the past few years, according to Partnership
for a Healthier America, and has been a trend that Play Streets is trying to
reverse.
“There
is evidence that not enough kids are getting enough physical activity in their
daily routines,” said Raess. “So this is an opportunity for kids to get out and
play as well as learn about different opportunities in the city to continue
staying active.” By Max Borsuk and Maria
Yankova
