SMSC’s IndigeFit Kids and KABOOM! partnership pairs data-driven insights with funding to build safer, community-designed spaces
Prior Lake, Minn. — A first-of-its-kind collaboration between the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) and KABOOM! is shedding new light on a critical issue: equitable access to safe, high-quality playspaces for Native youth across Minnesota. Commissioned by the SMSC through its IndigeFit Kids campaign, a new report released today, Prioritizing Play for Minnesota’s Native Youth, represents a landmark effort to better understand the condition, distribution and accessibility of playspaces serving Native youth across both reservation and urban communities.
“Children need good places to play – to develop strength, build social skills and experience the world around them. This report is especially valuable because it equips leaders with clear, data-driven insight into where the needs are greatest,” said SMSC Vice-Chairwoman Natasha Hacker. “This playspace quality analysis is a resource for tribal nations, Native organizations and funders working to ensure Native youth have the infrastructure they need to thrive.”
Nine of the state’s 11 tribal nations cooperated in the effort. KABOOM! staff worked directly with community leaders throughout the process, securing permission to assess playspaces and ensuring that each participating tribe maintained ownership and governance over its data. Each participating tribe also received a full dataset of its playspaces, empowering communities to use the findings in ways that best support their children and families.
Key findings and report link
The report is available on the IndigeFit Kids website. The playspace quality analysis identified 433 playspaces located on or near tribal lands and urban communities with significant Native youth populations. Of the 237 playspaces that KABOOM! staff evaluated in person in October 2025, the findings reveal serious disparities in quality and safety:
- 51 playspaces were classified as high-priority, requiring immediate replacement or posing safety hazards.
- 35% of assessed playspaces contained at least one unsafe component.
- 11% were deemed to be in urgent need of repair or replacement due to significant safety concerns.
The data shows that these challenges are not evenly distributed. Sixty-three percent of high-priority playspaces are located on tribal lands and 88% are in rural census tracts, underscoring the compounded impact of geographic isolation and underinvestment. Only four of the highest-priority sites were located in the greater Twin Cities area.
“At KABOOM!, we believe every child deserves access to safe, joyful places to play – but good intentions alone don’t ensure resources reach the children who need them most. This partnership brings clarity to where the greatest gaps exist, particularly in Native communities that have too often been overlooked,” said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM! “By using data to guide decisions, we can direct investment where it will have the greatest impact and ensure every Native child has a place to play, thrive and belong.”
The assessment was funded through IndigeFit Kids, the SMSC’s three-year, $6 million philanthropic campaign to improve the physical fitness and mental wellness of Native youth in Minnesota. The campaign is providing $1.5 million to KABOOM! to fund the construction of five new, community-designed playspaces serving Native communities over the next two years. These projects will be guided directly by the findings of the playspace quality analysis, ensuring investments are targeted where they are needed most.
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About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Dakota tribal government located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is dedicated to helping build strong, healthy communities. The tribe is a committed community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC’s government, Gaming Enterprise and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County and attract millions of visitors to the region. For more information, visit ShakopeeDakota.org.
About IndigeFit Kids
IndigeFit Kids is a philanthropic campaign of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) dedicated to empowering Native youth through fitness and wellness. The SMSC has committed $6 million to improve the physical and mental wellness of Native youth in Minnesota. Launched in January 2025 as a three-year campaign, IndigeFit Kids funds a variety of projects and programs that support the physical fitness and wellness of Native youth; commissions research; raises awareness; supports efforts to Indigenize athletic programs; and more. The campaign is co-chaired by SMSC Vice-Chairwoman Natasha Hacker and SMSC Secretary/Treasurer Ashley Cornforth. For more information, visit IndigeFitKids.org.
About KABOOM!
KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ending playspace inequity – the reality that quality places to play are not available to every child, especially in communities of color. Since 1996, KABOOM! has partnered with kids, communities, and public and private partners to transform 17,000+ playspaces, expanding access to the physical, mental, and social benefits of play for more than 12 million kids nationwide. As KABOOM! celebrates its 30th year, the organization is focused on community-driven solutions through public-private partnerships, research, policy, and advocacy to elevate the current state of our kids and center youth voice in shaping equitable access to playspaces and nature. Together with partners across sectors, KABOOM! is building the play infrastructure kids need to grow up happy and healthy for generations to come. Learn more at kaboom.org or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.