CHARLOTTE - The Carolina Panthers held ceremonial ribbon cuttings Wednesday for playgrounds at three local elementary schools that feature Play 60 challenge courses.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools recently constructed the new play spaces at Lansdowne Elementary, River Oaks Academy and Steele Creek Elementary. Sir Purr was on hand to help students show off the dynamic energy created by the new play spaces.
"These new playgrounds are going to serve thousands of children and provide new and exciting opportunities for active play, while encouraging kids to get 60 minutes of daily physical activity, which is one of the key elements of the NFL's Play 60 program," Panthers director of community relations Riley Fields said. "Studies show healthy and active students are more alert in the classroom, which supports the importance of providing children with resources like the Play 60 challenge courses."
The Play 60 challenge courses are based on the Panthers' popular Play 60 playgrounds at Mecklenburg County's Freedom Park and Hornets Nest Park.
"The intent of these play spaces is to challenge kids in a different way than they are used to on a traditional playground," Fields said. "The obstacle course concept of these playgrounds is best described as NFL Combine meets parkour or other types of free running, and it has really resonated with a broad age range of kids."
View photos of the new Play 60 playground at Steele Creek Elementary.
