King County Play Equity Coalition

The King County Play Equity Coalition (KCPEC):

At KCPEC, we believe every young person deserves access to play—sports, outdoor experiences, and physical activity—opportunities for lifelong health and wellbeing, regardless of your race, ability, income, or background. 

We are a collective network of over 140 cross-sector organizations working together to break down systemic barriers and promote equitable access to play and wellness for youth furthest from play equity. Our focus includes youth who identify as black, afro-indigenous, trans, girl & non-binary, refugee & immigrant, multi-lingual, with disabilities, low-income, unhoused, foster care, lgtbqia+, and full bodied.

Through collaboration, advocacy, and community-driven solutions, we center BIPOC-serving and BIPOC-led organizations, ensuring that those most impacted by inequities have the power to shape the solutions.

We are driven by our values including: 

• Being communities of color-centered
• Collaborating across sectors
• Empowering play at all levels
• Disrupting traditional systems

Our work in action: Explore the meaningful actions we’re taking to create equitable play opportunities—and discover why investing in KCPEC means investing in youth, community, and systemic change.

• 🌟 Youth Leadership: For youth, by youth. Our Youth Action Team (YAT) empowers teens (ages 13-18) from diverse and marginalized identities to become play equity advocates. YAT members lead a Youth Participatory Action Research project, identifying access barriers and creating youth-driven solutions for their communities. 

• ✊ Advocacy for Change: Through our Advocacy Action Team, we successfully championed the Recess for Washington law in 2023, ensuring more students statewide have access to protected free time and recess time—promoting physical activity and well-being.

• 📢 Coach and Outdoor Leadership Trainings: Each year, we host a series of free and high-quality trainings from SafeSport to Wilderness First Aid for women and nonbinary coaches, and BIPOC leaders, equipping them with the skills to create inclusive, safe, and culturally responsive play spaces.

• 🏀 Sports Sampling Camp Day: In collaboration with local pro sports teams, we host an annual week-long free summer camp for youth in South King County, giving youth the chance to try multiple sports and discover new passions such as street hockey, soccer, golf and rowing.

• 🤝 Outdoor Partnership Microgrants: We’ve provided and want to continue providing microgrants to support outdoor collaborations, helping local organizations expand programming and increase access to nature-based experiences for youth furthest from outdoor access.

• 🎉 Annual Play Days: Our Play Days bring together youth, families, and community organizations for free and festive accessible recreation, music, resources, and food. Our goal is to cultivate a community day for families to have fun and enjoy free programming. 

• 🎁 Free Gear and Equipment Giveaways: To break down financial barriers, we’ve distributed free sports and outdoor recreation equipment to youth and families, promoting year-round access to play.

Why your support matters: By donating, you are investing in a healthier, more equitable, and thriving future for youth in our region. Your contributions help us:

• Expand access to safe, accessible, and culturally relevant play spaces and programming for King County youth
• Sustain and strengthen the Coalition's advocacy work to address systemic barriers to play (check out Recess for WA law that passed last year!)
• Invest in high quality coach development training, youth leadership, and community advocacy building to instill confidence and equip members with tools to foster meaningful inclusion and safety for young people in King County and beyond.