What's Happening in Chandler, AZ…

The Humana Foundation, along with KaBOOM!, has announced the locations it has honored as 2014 Playful Cities, with Chandler making the list.

Chandler, along with 211 other communities across the country, has been recognized as a leader in “playability”--the degree to which a community makes it simple for children to get balanced, active play. The foundations also recognize those cities that use play to help meet various challenges of urban living.

KaBOOM!, which is known for its cleaning products, also supports a foundation that seeks to make play a part of every-day life in cities. The foundation has recognized that playing helps people, especially children, develop innovative solutions to various problems. However, it has also found that urban environments are not always conducive to play, especially in poorer neighborhoods. The two foundations honor those cities that have made play a priority.

This is the eighth year in a row that Chandler has won the Playful City USA honor. Contributing to the city's win were the fact that if finished Roadrunner Park, and that it plans to finish two others (Valencia and Centennial) this year. The new parks increase the amount of developed park in the city by 20 acres. The amenities in the new parks include illuminated paths so people can play after dark, shady playgrounds, volleyball and basketball courts, and open space for play.

Chandler officials could work with a banner printing company to create flags for the new parks.