On Monday, April 29th, over 150 volunteers from Delta, BCD Travel, and KABOOM! collaborated to construct Delta’s 38th playground at Kelly Park. This marks the sixth playground established at LAX and the second within the City of Compton since the partnership’s initiation in 2013.
The initiative, part of Delta’s Global Sales annual conference, Connect 2024, represents the fourth playground built in collaboration with BCD Travel since 2018. The newly erected play area provides a secure and accessible environment for physical activity, learning, and development for approximately 4,600 children residing within a two-mile radius of the park, situated in Compton, California.
Residents of the neighborhood actively participated in the event, expressing their enthusiasm for having a contemporary, walkable playground in close proximity for their families to enjoy. “Delta’s partnership has been hugely important in impacting the lives of children in this city, and we are grateful for the ways you’ve shown up to show this community the depth of care,” said Emma Sharif, Mayor of Compton.
Ms. Sharif was instrumental in bringing the first KABOOM! playground to South Park in Compton in 2019 while she was a city councilwoman and spoke about how proud she was to build a second in her district.
Delta Global Sales executives such as Shawn Cole, V.P. of Global Sales, and Scott Santoro, V.P. of Los Angeles and Sales-West, led teams throughout the day in constructing benches, pouring concrete, and participating in closing ceremonies alongside the offices of Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, and CA State Senator Steven Bradford.
Within just five hours, the playground was completed, boasting a multi-dimensional play structure featuring four slides, a rock-climbing wall, and a swing set. Volunteers also undertook additional projects for the community center, including painting, gardening, and constructing a pergola from scratch.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the City of Compton and Kelly Park Community Center were pleasantly surprised with a $10,000 check from Delta, presented by Delta leaders, to aid in the long-term maintenance of the playground.
Delta takes pride in its support of KABOOM! and its mission to eradicate play space inequality by collaborating with communities to build play areas designed by kids, fostering joy and a sense of belonging for children often deprived of such opportunities. Celebrating a decade-long partnership in 2023, Delta volunteers have contributed to the construction of 38 KABOOM! playgrounds nationwide.
