Partners Join Forces to Create a New Playground at Dutterer Park

Friday, October 9, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Photo/Interview Opportunities Available

WHAT: More than 200 volunteers from Baltimore Gas & Electric (@MyBGE), City of Westminster, Boys & Girls Club of Westminster, Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County (@Habitat_org), organizers from KaBOOM! (@kaboom) and the community Community partners and volunteers will join forces to give area kids the childhood they deserve by building a new playground at Dutterer Park. The design is based on children’s drawings created at a special design event earlier this year.

WHEN: Friday, October 9 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Times approximate) Kick-off ceremony Best viewing of playground construction Final construction phase Ribbon-cutting ceremony

WHERE: Dutterer Park 46 Monroe Street Westminster, MD 21157 WHY: A playground is more than a playground. It’s a brain-expander, friend-maker, and muscle-builder. Play is central to a child’s ability to grow into a productive adult. It can transform children from sedentary, bored and solitary to physically, mentally and socially active. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has been dedicated to the bold goal of giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve, filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. With its partners, KaBOOM! has built, improved and opened nearly 16,300 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers, and served 8.1 million kids (#playmatters). Currently, Dutterer Park is an aging park site that is coming to the end of its 15-year lifecycle and needs replacement. The new playground will bring more than 1,500 kids in Westminster one step closer to having the play-filled childhoods they deserve. By building this playspace together, we are making it easier for all kids to get balanced and active play and making Westminster more playable. The playground is the third built by Baltimore Gas & Electric and KaBOOM!. Through this partnership, more children will have the joyful childhood they deserve. Baltimore Gas & Electric supports KaBOOM! in promoting and protecting a child’s right to safe, active play at home, at school and in the community.

VISUALS: Before and after shots Volunteers assembling, carrying, and installing brightly colored playground equipment Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the playground Baltimore Gas & Electric.

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BGE, headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland’s largest gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.25 million electric customers and more than 650,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company’s approximately 3,200 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with 2014 revenues of approximately $27.4 billion. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

Boys & Girls Club of Westminster

In almost every community, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship during the critical after-school hours. To help meet the needs of these youth and their families, the Boys & Girls Club of Westminster provides healthy, supervised after-school programs and activities. Our mission is “To inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.” We accomplish this mission by providing a safe place to learn and grow, and develop ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals. Our programs function as life-enhancing experiences that lead to hope, opportunity, and, most importantly, fun! Visit our website at bgcwestminster.org or like us on Facebook at Boys & Girls Club of Westminster Maryland to see the exciting things that we are doing for youth in Westminster.

Carroll County Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities and hope. Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all. Like us on Facebook.

City of Westminster

The City of Westminster Department of Recreation and Parks is dedicated to providing citizens with safe and enjoyable activities, events and park services. We are committed to organizing and promoting a variety of recreational activities and events designed to encourage family interaction and personal enjoyment. We also partner with a number of community organizations in an effort to promote the health and well-being of our local citizens.

KaBOOM!

KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open or improve nearly 16,300 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers and served 8.1 million kids. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. To learn why #playmatters: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom.