UVALDE, Texas – Four years after the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School, the community of Uvalde is finding healing and hope through new playgrounds dedicated to the victims. Zachary Rodriguez, a local resident, shares how these parks have transformed from mere play areas into heartfelt memorials for his children and the community.
For Rodriguez’s family, these parks symbolize more than a place to play; they are a constant reminder of the lives lost during that tragic event. “As they’re having a great time, they see the names (of the victims) on these tables to remind them that they are also with them everywhere they go and at every park so that they are all with us no matter where we’re at and what we’re doing,” he said.
In collaboration with El Progreso Memorial Library, national nonprofit KABOOM!, and ideas42, the community has built fifteen new parks across Uvalde, each featuring memorials that honor the 21 lives lost on May 24, 2022. These parks are designed to foster connection and remembrance, offering a safe space for families to gather.
Rodriguez has noticed a positive shift in community engagement. “I’m seeing more picnics and birthday parties at the parks — small but meaningful signs the community is rebuilding,” he remarked. This sentiment is echoed by Tammie Sinclair, director at El Progreso Memorial Library, who described the resurgence of activity in local parks as “incredible to see.”
Recently, KABOOM! received a $1 million grant through the Trust in Practice Awards from the Aspen Institute and Allstate. Sinclair expressed her enthusiasm for the grant, noting, “I think through the biggest piece for me, and being a part of that, is just witnessing that growth in the community, and that means the most to me.”
Rodriguez highlighted the tangible improvements in the parks, stating, “These parks, again, they’re brighter, bigger, and now they got more cushion on these mulch areas because before it was straight ground. And I mean, you fall, you will feel it for sure, but now you’ve got a little cushion underneath.”
KABOOM! representatives have expressed their commitment to continue enhancing these spaces, ensuring that they not only serve as playgrounds but also as places of remembrance and community bonding. The aim is to bring families together while honoring the 21 lives lost in the shooting.
Here is the full list of playgrounds:
