Creating Strong and Healthy Communities Through Play

There is nothing better than summer in the city, and thanks to CYC’s partnership with PlayStreets, summertime Chi is even more fun. PlayStreets is a collaborative initiative through the Chicago Department of Public Health to build healthier and stronger communities through safe and accessible residential play areas. The PlayStreet activities encourage kids to be active, to learn, and for neighbors to come together.  

 This year, we blocked off the street in front of our CYC-Epstein Center in North Lawndale every Friday throughout the summer months to safely enjoy PlayStreets activities. Each week we presented a different theme, including House Music Party, Ropes and Hoops, and Wheels in Motion. Partnerships with local organizations allowed us to deliver great music, community support, tasty snacks, and even Divvy bikes to ride!

At the House Music Party, CYC kids, community members, and staff enjoyed classic House hits while playing games, jumping around in a bounce house, and a very intense dance-off. You can view the album here! 

 Roops and Hoops brought everyone outside for double dutch and hula hooping in the sunshine (you can view the photo album here), while Wheels in Motion provided the perfect space to bike, scooter, skateboard, and rollerblade. You can view the Wheels in Motion album here! 

CYC wrapped up the summer with the STEM Decathlon, where youth completed a series of science, technology, engineering, and math challenges, as well as our Mental Health Fair, which included yoga, meditation, and other wellness activities. View the Mental Health Fair album here!

Special thanks to our photographer Ingrid Bonne for capturing all these wonderful pictures, to our dedicated volunteers for helping our events run smoothly, and to PlayStreets for continuing to provide fantastic outdoor experiences for our kids, and to our communities for joining us for some fun in the sun. We are grateful to you all!