The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA), Kappa Pi Omega Chapter, (KPO) held its 1908 Playground Project Dedication on Saturday at the OCAP Head Start Pre-School Center in Troy.  The local chapter refreshed, restored and renewed an area around the playground fence perimeter as part of the international goal to restore and renew 1,908 existing community and school playgrounds.

The 2014-2018 International Program theme for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is Launching New Dimensions of Service.  With this theme, community needs are addressed in five target areas while members implement seven International Community Impact Days.  Under Target-IV-Environmental Ownership, May 21, 2016 was set aside for the AKA Community Impact Day – AKA 1908 Playground Project.   This project was launched to ensure children have safe and inviting places to play.

To help make the project a reality, the Kappa Pi Omega Chapter partnered with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Pike County Master Gardeners.  The KPO Chapter along with Pike County Master Gardeners, OCAP Staff and the AKA, Mu Alpha Chapter at Troy University completed the landscape plan for the playground on April 26.  A total of 10 shrub beds were landscaped and installed on the grounds.  Landscape timbers, garden art and a bird house were also installed to complete the project work.  Ending the dedication on Saturday, Dorothy L. Smith, KPO chapter president, unveiled the placement of a permanent plaque that recognized the organization’s efforts at the playground.