Coyotes Help Build Playground at Phoenix School

PHOENIX --The Coyotes, working in conjunction with KaBOOM!, helped to construct a playground at Larry C. Kennedy School in Phoenix on Dec.12.
Volunteers began work on the project just after dawn and completed it approximately six hours later. The new playground, which was designed based on drawings by children submitted back in October, will provide a place to recreate for more than 900 kids.
All of the Coyotes coaches and players raced to the playground construction after practice and helped with the build. Other volunteers from the team included team President and CEO Steve Patterson, TV and radio broadcasters, office staffers, the Paw Patrol and team mascot Howler.

"I am terrible with tools, but this is a fun event," Derek Stepan said. "It's very cool that the kids had input into what we are building. It's a good opportunity to dig in a little bit to our community, get dirty, and then see the end result of a lot of hard work by all the volunteers."

Coyotes players chipped in at various work stations. Some painted murals, some planted flowers, some hauled supplies in wheelbarrows, and some helped construct standing structures. A few tossed a football back and forth to the young students who were eagerly watching them build their new playground.

"It's fun to see how excited the kids are as the playground is taking shape and just to be around the guys," Kevin Connauton said.
Dr. Donna Lewis, the superintendent of the Creighton School District, thanked the Coyotes and KaBOOM! during a brief ceremony after the playground was completed. She told everyone of a student who was more excited about the opening of the new playground than he was about his upcoming birthday or the holiday season.

The playground is the second one the Coyotes have constructed in the Valley with help from KaBOOM!, a national non-profit whose mission is "to ensure that all kids get a childhood filled with the balanced and active play needed to thrive." The other Coyotes-themed playground is in Glendale, just a few miles from Gila River Arena.

"It's awesome," Brendan Perlini said. "We're in a privileged position to play hockey for a living so any time you can help people, whether it be kids or veterans or whoever is needing help, you have to give back. Building a playground like this is great because it promotes more movement for the kids and to be outside a lot more. That's the best part."