Playworks - Access to Safe & Healthy Play

Green space, park access, and trees

South LA County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

In LA County over a quarter of all children were reported to not have easy access to a park, playground, or other place that is safe from crime to play (2023 LA County Health Survey/Key Findings for Selected Populations).
Limited funding has compounded the crisis of inadequate access to safe and healthy play. Many schools and districts in Los Angeles County have requested Playworks programming in 2025-26 but lack of funding has resulted in a lengthy waitlist. A top priority for Playworks is to secure funding to support all schools who request our programming with the goal of providing safe and healthy play to all kids.
"Our school wants to continue having Playworks programming for next school year, but due to budget reductions we are having a hard time being able to pay for services. We really value the impact Playworks provides, especially having the leadership opportunities for Junior Coaches and the games students are introduced to.” - Principal, LAUSD, to Playworks, May 2025

The LA2050 Grants Challenge will provide Playworks the funding to support 4 schools in Los Angeles County (schools subject to change, dependent on funding and contracts): Sixth Avenue, Weigand, 112th, Compton Avenue.
The direct service program components to be provided include the following:
Coach: In our most intensive mode, a dedicated Playworks professional works at one school full-time throughout the school year to implement play-based strategies that build social emotional skills and increase physical activity for every student.
Recess Transformation: Playworks Coaches implement a curriculum of engaging games and activities designed to increase physical activity levels during recess, generally at least 30-45 minutes each day.
Junior Coach Leadership Program: We coordinate with teachers to identify 4th and 5th graders to train and serve as leaders on the playground.
Class Game Time: We teach games and healthy play in the classroom, where teachers learn Playworks methodology so they can offer healthy play to their students autonomously.
Sports Clubs: Coaches recruit upper elementary school students to participate in five-week long sports clubs, with practices once per week after school and a tournament-like event as a finale.
Girls Rise Wednesdays & Fridays: Two days each week the soccer field is dedicated to girls only time to build confidence among the girls and a culture of support from the boys.

Playworks services are evidence-informed and based on our Theory of Change. An important tool to evaluate impact is the annual survey administered to all educators at our partner schools. Recent survey results:
Playworks Supports Students
97% of educators report that Playworks helps students develop relationship with their peers
96% of educators report that Playworks increases the number of students that are physically active
Playworks Supports Learning
96% of educators report that Playworks helps the school create an environment of belonging
85% of educators report that during learning time Playworks increases students’ ability to focus on class activities
Playworks Supports School Environments
98% of educators report that Playworks helps the school create opportunities for inclusion of diverse groups of students
94% of educators report that they want to continue partnering with Playworks
Support from LA2050 will help Playworks expand similar results throughout Los Angeles.