Orlando Magic and Partners Build New Playground for Local Apartment Complex

The team and its Champions of the Community partners team up to create a new community playspace for kids in need.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 2:52pm

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The Orlando Magic, along with their nine Champions of the Community partners, the Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (ONIC), and KABOOM!, came together to construct a new community playground at the Boca Club Apartments in Orlando, Florida. The project was a collaborative effort to provide a safe and accessible area for recreation, creativity, and connection that will foster community pride and enhance the well-being of youth and their families.

Why it matters

The new playground will benefit the 133 children living in the Boca Club Apartments, who previously had limited access to free and open playspaces in the area. By teaming up with various philanthropic organizations, the Magic were able to take on a larger project and make a greater impact in the local community.

The details

The previous playground at the Boca Club Apartments was unsafe due to age and environmental conditions, including uneven ground and exposed roots. The new playspace was designed with input from the resident children, incorporating many of their ideas. The project was completed in just a few hours with the help of numerous volunteers from the Magic's Champions of the Community partners, including AdventHealth, City National Bank, Florida Blue, Gallagher, Kia, L3Harris Technologies, PepsiCo, ThreatLocker, and Walt Disney World.

  • The playground construction project took place on Thursday, April 4, 2026.

The players

Orlando Magic

A professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida, known for their community engagement and philanthropic efforts.

Champions of the Community (COTC)

A group of nine partner organizations that collaborate with the Orlando Magic on community projects and initiatives.

Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (ONIC)

A local nonprofit organization that works to improve neighborhoods and communities in the Orlando area.

KABOOM!

A national nonprofit organization with a mission to provide every child in every community with a safe and accessible place to play.

Boca Club Apartments

A residential apartment complex in Orlando, Florida, home to 133 children who will benefit from the new playground.

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What they’re saying

“It's really great for us to get our nine Champions of the Community partners out here and all work alongside each other. You're truly seeing the fruits of your labor from an empty space to a playground that's built in just a couple hours. It's hugely rewarding and it will be exciting to see it live with kids playing on it in the near future.”

— Ryan DeVos, Magic Managing Director

“The more that we bond together, the bigger the impact we can make and the bigger the projects we can take on. Disney has 80,000 employees, but the Orlando Magic have a significant number of employees as well. So, when we all come together, we can take on projects that are significantly bigger, which means we can have a bigger impact on the community.”

— Katie Stretch, Disney Senior Vice President of Operations

“The organization has just been blessed in so many different ways to be able to be involved in this community. To be able to give back to that with our time and effort is (great). There are obviously other ways we can do that, but there's nothing like actually getting your hands dirty and doing the work yourself. We really enjoy that part of it.”

— Cole DeVos, Part of Magic's managing development program

“We love to do that here at the Magic. To be able to see everybody come together (on Thursday) and do this type of hard work is fun. We are so excited to see the smiles on the kids' faces that are peaking out and looking over (from their windows) and hopefully they will be able to use it for many years to come.”

— Charlie Freeman, Magic President of Business Operations

What’s next

The new playground is expected to open for use by the children of the Boca Club Apartments in the coming weeks, providing a safe and engaging space for recreation and community building.

The takeaway

The Orlando Magic's commitment to community engagement and their ability to rally diverse philanthropic partners demonstrates the power of collaboration in creating meaningful change and improving the lives of local youth. This project highlights the team's dedication to being a true steward of the Orlando community.