New playspaces at Bois Forte and Upper Sioux are first of five funded through SMSC’s $6 million IndigeFit Kids campaign
Prior Lake, Minn. — The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) today announced the first two communities selected to receive new, community-designed playspaces through its IndigeFit Kids partnership with KABOOM!, putting findings from a first-of-its-kind statewide playspace assessment into action. The two playspaces will be built next month at the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa’s Boys & Girls Club in Tower, Minn., and in the Upper Sioux Indian Community at its community center near Granite Falls, Minn. Three additional projects will be announced and built in 2027.
The two new playspaces are funded as part of the SMSC’s three-year, $6 million IndigeFit Kids philanthropic campaign to improve the physical fitness and mental wellness of Native youth in Minnesota. Through the campaign, the SMSC has committed $1.5 million to KABOOM! to build five new playspaces serving Native communities in Minnesota.
“Children need safe, welcoming places where they can be active, connect with one another and simply enjoy being kids,” said SMSC Vice-Chairwoman Natasha Hacker. “The assessment provided important data about where playspace needs are greatest in Native communities. Now, with KABOOM! and the communities themselves leading the way, we are turning that research into places that will make a meaningful difference for Native youth and families.”
Earlier this year, the SMSC and KABOOM! released Prioritizing Play for Minnesota’s Native Youth, a statewide analysis examining the condition, distribution and accessibility of playspaces serving Native youth. Nine of Minnesota’s 11 tribal nations took part in the initial effort, which identified 433 playspaces on or near tribal lands and in urban communities with significant Native youth populations. The two remaining tribes are participating in the assessment this fall. Their data will be added to the report, once collected.
KABOOM! staff evaluated 237 of the 433 identified playspaces in person in October 2025. Their assessment found that 51 were high-priority sites requiring immediate replacement or presenting safety hazards, 35% contained at least one unsafe component, and 11% were in urgent need of repair or replacement. Sixty-three percent of the high-priority playspaces were located on tribal lands, and 88% were in rural census tracts.
The findings helped inform where the five IndigeFit Kids-funded playspaces could have the greatest impact.
“At KABOOM!, we believe every child deserves access to safe, joyful places to play, and that the strongest playspaces are created with communities, not simply for them,” said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM! “The research gave us a clearer picture of where investment is needed. These first two projects are an exciting opportunity to pair those insights with the ideas and priorities of the kids, families and community members who will use these spaces every day.”
Designed by and for the communities
Before construction, KABOOM! works with children, families and community representatives to envision what they want their new playspace to look and feel like. Children shared their ideas through design sessions, while community representatives, local organizations and parents provided additional input. KABOOM! worked with its playground equipment manufacturer to turn that feedback into custom design options for each community to review and refine before selecting a final design.
The process culminates in community build days, when volunteers come together to bring each new playspace to life. The Bois Forte Boys & Girls Club playspace will be built Oct. 8, 2026, followed by the Upper Sioux Indian Community playspace on Oct. 24, 2026. Details about the remaining three communities and their builds will be announced in 2027.
To download photos from the Bois Forte design day and renderings of the playspace designs for media use, click here.
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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. This July, KABOOM! released the State of Our Kids Report: Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis, an urgent call to action for cross-sector leaders to invest in solutions for the youth mental health crisis. Learn more at kaboom.org or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.