One of Oakland’s roughest streets is getting a much-needed addition that aims to give the city’s youth a safe place to simply be kids. It’s the first playground on Oakland’s International Boulevard, and the first outdoor play structure of any of the Oakland Boys and Girls Club branches. A n outdoor safe space in a challenging corridor that’s made especially just for kids. “It’s a piece of their childhood that they don’t get to have and most of our members have to travel in order to get to a park. That is a day experience, rather than just a part of their day,” said BGCO Carr Branch Director Leiani Celestan. After months of planning, the playground was built in a day transforming a blacktop into a colorful space and mural celebrating Oakland’s history. The project was a partnership between the Boys and Girls Club of Oakland, Kaboom!, and Sidley Law Firm, which funded the playground. 50 lawyers joined community volunteers on Wednesday to help build the playground by hand. “It seems like something so basic, but getting a playground, a safe space — an inspiring space for our kids to play in — is really important and every child deserves that,” said Sidley Law Firm Managing Partner (San Francisco Sharon Flanagan. Organizers hope the visible playground helps reshape the image of International Boulevard that has been long known for crime and less than kid-friendly activity — while giving families a place that feels welcoming and safe. “In this community being able to see playgrounds, safe spaces for your kid to play is not something that is common. It provides a curiosity point for our community, a safe space for people to come in, see what this is about and also allow their kid to play here,” Celestan said. Kids can’t play on the playground just yet; it will take a couple more days. But on Monday, this will be filled with students enjoying the great outdoors. ...read more read less