SomerPlay

CITY LAUNCHES ‘SOMERPLAY’ INITIATIVE

Based on Mike Lanza’s “Playborhood,” SomerPlay cultivates and supports leadership to identify free-play and structured activity in city neighborhoods

SOMERVILLE – Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announces the launch of the City’s innovative SomerPlay program for summer 2013. Based on author Mike Lanza’s Playborhood, SomerPlay encourages the use of structured activity within urban neighborhoods to create fun and innovative play for youth. The approach also cultivates and supports leadership as residents identify ways to strengthen community connections while enabling play among children in our neighborhoods and squares. Through the pilot program this summer, the City will support “zones” throughout Somerville, created by residents, businesses, churches or other community members that aim to create activities for residents of all ages and include a component for children. City staff will host planning workshops beginning on May 16^th to discuss the program and review proposals for SomerPlay “zones.”

Author Mike Lanza joined Mayor Curtatone and the City’s Public Library and Recreation Department for an interactive “Playborhood” workshop in March 2013. The idea has since garnered significant community interest. Through SomerPlay, the City of Somerville will work with community members to create play “zones” that encourage, support or enhance opportunities for physical activity in and around Somerville neighborhoods. Zone teams will be asked to attend several planning meetings, provide feedback on activities and share any lessons learned at the end of the summer. More information can be found at somervilleresistat.blogspot.com/p/youthstat.html.

“In a city of only 4.1 square miles, we recognize that open space is at a premium and that opportunities for active outdoor play are not always the most evident. To that end, we hope that SomerPlay will inspire residents and community groups of all ages and from every neighborhood to create play zones that encourage exactly the types of physical activity, imagination and fun that will help us become more connected as a community,” said Mayor Curtatone. “Over the last several months and years, we have increasingly introduced opportunities for leadership and leadership training within city government, and we hope that the values promoted through those initiatives will, in turn, inspire participants and all residents to become leaders in their own neighborhoods, helping us to create a successful and lasting program citywide.”

”In Somerville, our density means we interact with many people as soon as we walk out the door,” said Stephanie Hirsch, SomerPlay Coordinator and an employee of the City and Somerville Public Schools. “Strengthening our ties makes these interactions very fun and makes our lives richer. This is especially true for children, who benefit greatly from having playmates next door or just down the street, who they can visit without a scheduled play date.”

To aid residents in realizing their ideas, City staff will assist with permitting, locations (including making school or City buildings available), and, when possible, will help provide needed equipment.

Any community member wishing to submit a SomerPlay plan should visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/RDLMG9B and should be prepared to send a representative to a planning workshop on Thursday, May 16th^, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Recreation Building, 19 Walnut Street. Plans should be submitted prior to the workshop if possible.

Additional information about SomerPlay, upcoming workshops and planning meetings, and related documents can be found at http://somervilleresistat.blogspot.com/p/youthstat.html. With any questions, please contact Stephanie Hirsch at SHirsch@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext 2340.