– Photos by Bobbie Toner

Over 200 volunteers from Biogen Idec, The Elizabeth Peabody House, and KaBOOM!, along with Massachusetts District 26 State Representative Timothy Toomey, built a playground in one day, on Friday, September 20 at The Elizabeth Peabody House.

The new playground will provide more than 200 children in the local community with a safe place to play. Currently, the children who participate in the preschool and after school programs at The Elizabeth Peabody House do not have a playground to enjoy.

It was noted that today’s kids spend less time playing outside than any previous generation, in part because only 1-in-5 children live within walking distance of a park or playground. Many feel that his play deficit is having profound consequences for kids physically, socially and cognitively. The new playground’s design is based on drawings created by children who participated in a Design Day event in July. The Biogen Idec Foundation supported the KaBOOM! playground through an $85,000 grant.

Volunteers converged on The Elizabeth Peabody House last Friday and built a playground for local kids.
– Photo courtesy of Biogen Idec.