Laughter and the joyful sounds of children at play have replaced the silence of empty lots and open fields in communities throughout the country. Multigenerational playgrounds, built through a partnership between Humana and the nonprofit organization KaBOOM!, now fill those empty spaces, offering opportunities for families to gather, reconnect and enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.

In the past several months, hundreds of volunteers in communities from California to New Orleans to Florida worked alongside Humana associates and KaBOOM! to build playgrounds that were designed by the children and families who would be using them to create lasting memories – and healthier lives.

Each playground has senior and adult-focused elements, such as fitness stations to promote good posture, balance and flexibility, as well as traditional kid-friendly equipment. But each also has elements unique to each community.

Perhaps the best way to demonstrate the positive changes sparked by the playgrounds is to hear directly from those who have been affected the most. In this video, the residents of the desert community of Thermal, Calif., who named their playground Mirage, explain what it means to them and how it helps build hope for healthier, happier days ahead.

And in Sanford, Fla., Midway Safe Harbor Community Center, which, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club, provides after-school programming, a foster grandparent program, health and nutrition education and a “kids’ café” to more than 150 children, has a new way to actively demonstrate the benefits of an active lifestyle. Dorothy Jackson, who volunteers at the center and enjoys time on the playground with her great-grandchildren, Brenda Knight, administrator of the center, and the children who helped design their playground share their story in the video below.