ABC7 teams up with KaBOOM! to build Oakland playground

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- ABC7 has teamed up with the national non-profit KaBOOM to build a new playground for children in Oakland's Millsmont neighborhood. The project broke ground Wednesday with the building scheduled to take place on Friday.

Volunteers like Jorge Flores will help put together the one-of-a kind playground in just six hours on Friday.

"Sometimes Oakland is the last city that doesn't have the good stuff. And this is the good stuff for the kids. The kids are going to enjoy. The kids are going to be so happy," said Flores.

KaBOOM Project Manager Alec Stackhouse says they've spent months planning it.

"It's going to have slides, some swings and some great climbing elements," said Stackhouse.

Kids helped with the design by contributing their ideas for the perfect park. This one includes a community garden.

"It's an opportunity to get the community together to invest in the neighborhood and to have a one of a kind playground. The kids designed it and have some sense of ownership," said Stackhouse.

KaBOOM playgrounds are part of Disney's Healthy Living Initiative. The idea is to create a space where kids can have fun, make friends, and get exercise.

For City Council Member Desley Brooks, who represents the district where it will be built, it's more than that.

"One of the things I hope happens with this playground is it will bring people back to the parks. You know it's really tight out there for some families. And so they need a free place to come," said Brooks.

The playground will be unveiled to the public on Friday, but won't open until at least a week later once it passes safety checks.