The third annual Free Community Play Day, hosted by the King County Play Equity Coalition (KCPEC), recently brought together young people and families at the Tukwila Community Center. As a nonprofit dedicated to making play more accessible and safer for youth, especially those furthest from play equity, the coalition provided a day of physical activity, sports, and recreation. 

Tracy Myer, Executive Director of KCPEC, and Monika Sharma, Director of Operations spoke on the importance of play for immigrant, refugee, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC youth, emphasizing its role in developing a healthy lifestyle from childhood through adulthood. By bringing together an array of non-profit organizations focused on youth development, the Coalition created a space for not only youth to be uplifted, but for key organizations to further  spread their missions with the community.

A significant achievement for the King County Play Equity Coalition was the successful passage of Washington State legislation in 2023, known as the Recess Bill, which mandates 30 minutes of recess for kindergarten through fifth-grade students statewide. The event served as a joyful reminder of the transformative benefits of play, offering a space for children and families to try new things and experience happiness, countering exclusion and fostering hope within the community.

Visit kcplayequity.org to learn more about the Coalition and their mission.