LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A Louisville organization is marking Juneteenth with something that’s never been done before in the country. Play Cousins Collective on Friday unveiled Sankofa Sanctuary at Chickasaw Park, being called the nation’s first nature-based Black history children’s park.
“So today we are celebrating Juneteenth through Play as Liberation, right? So we’ve brought all of our children out here to celebrate our new Sankofa Sanctuary and just talk about how powerful play is in our lives as adults and in the development of our children, and really celebrate communal values through play,” said Kristen Williams, co-founder and executive director of Play Cousins Collective.
The word “Sankofa” means to go back and get it — to return for the knowledge and wisdom of your people. Each play element inside the sanctuary is tied to a figure or principle from Pan-African culture and history. Children can zip line while learning about aviation pioneer Willa Brown, or discover architect Samuel Plato through a playhouse built in his honor…