For the second consecutive year, the nonprofit, pro-play organization KaBOOM! has recognized Brentwood as a Playful City USA.

Now in its third year, KaBOOM!’s Playful City program this year selected 93 cities nationwide for demonstrating “creative commitments to the cause of play in the areas of quantity (the number of usable, open playspaces), quality (making playspaces engaging, exciting, interesting and fun) and access (the ability to get to a playspace – roads, trails – and a lack of barriers such as cost, safety, traffic and locked gates). Among the nine California cities to make the list, Brentwood and San Francisco were the only ones representing Northern California.

According to a press release from KaBOOM! spokesman Mike Vietti, Brentwood was also selected for its “dedication to play … Recognizing that many families are taking ‘stay-cations,’ the city is working diligently to ensure that its parks are open, updated and safe for their residents to use. New play structures will be installed at Summerwood and Curtis parks to update and replace aging play structures to ensure safety of equipment and users, while Blue Goose Park recently re-opened after being closed for two years due to maintenance issues. McClarren Park playground will be redesigned to replace a damaged structure and two trails will reopen to eliminate barriers and make connections amongst existing parks, which will add an additional two miles to the trails.”

Brentwood Parks and Recreation Director Craig Bronzon said it’s just the right time for this sort of upbeat news: “As so much of the news related to the economy and county seems to be negative, this recognition couldn’t have come at a better time. We’re proud to do our part in helping our citizens play and keep their playful spirit alive and well.”

It’s that attitude that helped Brentwood stand out among its Northern California peers.

“Our country is facing two monumental deficits: a lack of unstructured play among children and a lack of resources to address this very issue,” said KaBOOM! CEO and Co-founder Darell Hammond. “Brentwood and San Francisco both took a stand and determined that the future of their community – their children – deserve a commitment to the cause of play.”