Delta builds 7th KABOOM! playground in Los Angeles area and 42nd overall

On Saturday, Dec. 7, over 100 Delta and City of Bell volunteers came together with national partner KABOOM!  to build Delta’s 42nd playground. 

Staff Writer

Dec 20, 2024 10:30am

On Saturday, Dec. 7, over 100 Delta and City of Bell volunteers came together with national partner KABOOM!  to build Delta’s 42nd playground.  The playground was built in Treder Park and is the seventh playground Delta has built in the Los Angeles area since the partnership with KABOOM! began in 2013. Delta people from Los Angeles as well as Atlanta, Detroit, New York and other stations around the system helped build the new playground.   

The new play space is 2,214 square feet and offers a safe, accessible place to be physically active, learn and grow for over 1,000 children in close proximity to Treder Park. During the event, residents of the neighborhood pitched in to assist with the playground and side projects, pointing out how excited their families were to have a modern, walkable playground nearby.  Local families participated in a Design Day in September where the children got to draw their dream playground.   

“Delta’s partnership with KABOOM! reflects our broader commitment to fostering belonging and well-being in the communities we serve,” said Tad Hutcheson, Managing Director of Community Engagement.  “Every child deserves the opportunity to play, and we’re honored to show children we care by bringing their visions to life and creating spaces just for them.” 

Delta leaders who participated in the event included Meg Taylor, V.P., Deputy General Counsel and Chief Litigation Counsel; Margaret Campbell, Assistant General Counsel; Dana Debel, Managing Director, Government Affairs; and Tad Hutcheson, Managing Director - Community Engagement. They were joined by LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn (middle).

The playground was completed in just five hours and included a multi-dimensional play structure with two slides, climbing walls and net bridge. The volunteers also completed side projects for the community center, including painting the park fence, an exterior wall on the firehouse and mulching all the flower beds. A new Little Free Library and fun directional posts were also installed by volunteers. At the ribbon cutting, the City of Bell was surprised with a check for $10,000 from Delta to assist with long-term maintenance of the playground. 

"We are deeply grateful to KABOOM! and Delta Air Lines for their incredible generosity and commitment to our community,” said Bell Mayor Ali Saleh (third from the right) who participated in the day and helped cut the ribbon on the new playground.  “This partnership has transformed Treder Park into a vibrant space where our children can play, learn, and grow. Together, we are making the City of Bell a better place for families and fostering opportunities for joy and connection. On behalf of our city, I extend my heartfelt thanks to KABOOM! and Delta Air Lines for helping us build a brighter future for the next generation."

"We are profoundly thankful to KABOOM! for their unwavering dedication to creating safe spaces where children can thrive and to Delta Air Lines for their remarkable generosity as the Funding Partner for the Treder Park Project. Their investment of resources and time reflects a true spirit of community building. Together, we have transformed Treder Park into a place where dreams can flourish, and childhood memories can be made. This collaboration demonstrates the power of partnership in building a stronger, more connected Bell," said Michael L. Antwine II, Bell City Manager.

 Delta is proud to support KABOOM! in its goal to end play space inequality by uniting with communities to build kid-designed play spaces that can spark joy and foster a sense of belonging for the children who are often denied opportunities to thrive. Delta volunteers have helped build 42 KABOOM! playgrounds around the U.S. since the partnership began in 2013. 