On September 27, more than 100 volunteers, including Delta Air Lines employees and members of the Seattle Seahawks, worked together to build a new playground in Duwamish Park, Tukwila, Washington. This project marks the 45th playground built by Delta in partnership with KABOOM! since their collaboration began in 2013, and it is the sixth such playground constructed in the Seattle area.
The event was supported by the City of Tukwila’s Parks and Recreation Department. The new play space is designed to serve over 800 children from the local community. Tukwila’s Mayor Thomas McLeod commented on the impact of the project: “This playground is going to be a canvas for dreams as kids come here and enjoy the relaxation that play gives them. It all starts here.” He also noted that additional support from the city helped make this one of Delta’s largest playground projects.
Joan Wang, Managing Director of Global Sales-SEA for Delta, emphasized community involvement: “It takes a village to build something to move forward, and we’re very fortunate to have partners like KABOOM! see that and align with the visions we have together to support our community.”
Local residents participated in both the construction event and a Design Day held earlier in June, where children shared drawings of their ideal playground. More than 80 Delta employees volunteered alongside 10 SkyMiles customers during the build. Jamilian K., a member of Delta’s SkyMiles Life Facebook group, reflected on personal experiences: “When I think about this playground, I remember my own childhood — I think about the friendships I made and the imaginations we were able to have. I hope the kids here can see that their imagination came to life.”
The Seattle Seahawks also joined in on build day activities. NFL Legend Garry Gilliam Jr. said, “When the kids come here for the first time, I know they will definitely be excited, and they’ll be very curious and grateful to all the people who put the work in to build it for them.”
The completed playground features slides, swings, a zip line, climbing wall, and open spaces for exploration. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony following construction, Delta representatives presented a $10,000 donation to Tukwila’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Lysa Ratliff, Chief Executive Officer of KABOOM!, recognized Delta’s commitment: “Delta is the first airline to meet the 100-year milestone, and I can see why. Delta has worked with KABOOM! since 2013, and when they commit to something, they really commit to it!”
Since forming its partnership with KABOOM!, Delta has contributed volunteers for 45 playground builds across various locations nationwide.
