Kids Design Dream Playground for Michigan Community

Imagine telling kids to dream up their perfect playground, then actually building it for them.

That's exactly what's happening in London Township, Michigan, where local children helped design a brand new playspace that breaks ground May 28. The township is calling on community members to roll up their sleeves and make those dreams real during a three-day build at London Township Hall on Tuttlehill Road in Milan.

The project brings together London Township, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, and KABOOM!, a national nonprofit focused on kid-designed playgrounds. Instead of adults deciding what children need, the kids themselves shared ideas for their dream playspace, and those ideas shaped the final design.

Volunteers aged 18 and up can sign up for shifts between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Thursday, May 28, through Saturday, May 30. The biggest push happens Saturday, when the community comes together to complete the build and celebrate with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2:30 p.m.

The township will provide water, snacks, gloves, and masks. Volunteers just need to bring a refillable water bottle, wear closed-toe shoes, and dress in comfortable clothes that can handle dirt and dust.

The Ripple Effect

Community-built playgrounds do more than give kids a place to play. When neighbors work side by side to create something lasting, they strengthen bonds that hold communities together long after the project ends.

These builds also show young people that their voices matter. The children who contributed ideas will see their community take them seriously enough to turn drawings into real swings, slides, and climbing structures.

London Township Supervisor Penny Turner is coordinating volunteer signups by phone at 734-215-7942 or email at supervisor@londontwp.org. The build happens rain or shine, so weather won't stop this dream from becoming reality.

By Memorial Day weekend, London Township will have a playground designed by kids, built by community members, and ready to create memories for years to come.