A cool, bright day set the stage for Tuesday's visit to the United South End Settlements (USES) by three very special guests: members of the New England Patriots. Linebacker Jonathan Freeny, running back James White and defensive lineman Geneo Grissom were accompanied by Patriots staff to help unveil Imagination Playground equipment presented to USES through a grant from used-car sales chain Carmax and Kaboom, a non-profit organization that promotes physical activity for children and youth.

The presentation took place in the South End House playground at 48 Rutland Street during the pre-school program for three and four year olds. "We applied to Kaboom to get the Imagination Playground and the Carmax Foundation funded it. The Patriots came to lend support and help with publicity," Heather Kaufmann, USES community engagement specialist explained. Jennifer Bartusiak of Carmax said in an e-mail, "Through our partnership with KaBOOM!, we are able to partner with organizations like United South End Settlements to bring healthy living to local children by providing them with safe places to play. Representatives of Carmax and Kaboom joined USES and the Patriots in helping the children create their own playground structures with the Imagination Playground components, which are made from a lightweight but firm foam material formed in stackable and flexible components that are safe and easy to move around for small children."

In her welcome remarks, USES CEO Maicharia Weir-Lytle began by lauding the Patriots on Sunday's exciting victory and their unbeaten season. Commenting on the versatile new play equipment, she said, "What's so cool about these pieces is that we get to bring them indoors. We all know we had a horrible winter last season, but we will be able to bring them indoors and continue to create. We are so grateful to all of our partners. The Patriots players were asked what they liked to do as exercise when they were children and why it is important to be active from a young age. Running back White said, "I think it is very important to be active to grow up and be a healthy, confident adult. It helps to sharpen your mind so in school you'll be more alert and have more fun."

In his remarks presenting the play equipment, Brian Rodrique, general manager of Carmax in North Attleboro, issued a challenge to the USES community. "Go where your imagination will take you and build something that will help you to expand your creativity for years to come." The Patriots staff brought with them some gifts, specifically "Let's Go Patriots" fan booklets for USES participants and Play 60 stickers to remind them of the importance of being active and eating healthfully. The Patriots players wore a black band under one eye representing eye black, the paint football players wear to fight sun glare, and the team staff gave them out to the children as well. The eye black patches used at the event promote the Play 60 initiative. "The NFL has the Play 60 initiative which does events and outreach around exercising for 60 minutes a day and eating healthy. We give them out at a lot of our play 60 events It's cute to have the kids wearing them and they have some of our play 60 message on them," Dan MacPherson of the Patriots community relations staff said.

In a question and answer session, the children were asked to name their favorite healthful food and not surprisingly, the first answer was, "Cookies!" with a follow-up response of "Broccoli". After the speakers, adults and children set about batting balls around with long foam bars, creating climbing structures and building little cars with the Imagination Playground pieces. There were smiles all around, and the adults seemed to be having as much fun the youngsters. As he played with the preschoolers, White was reminded happily of his childhood in Fort Lauderdale. "I remember these days. I was always running around," he recalled. White was impressed with the playground at 48 Rutland as well. "It has a nice, safe ground surface; it's enclosed. It's nice and safe. Anytime you have a nice play area in a neighborhood like this it's good. It keeps the kids active and they have a lot of fun."

A cool, bright day set the stage for Tuesday's visit to the United South End Settlements