JonBon in Camden

Jon Bon Jovi was in Camden Monday to officially open a new elementary school playground.

Camden, New Jersey consistently ranks as one of the nation's most impoverished cities, and the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation is one of many charities trying to help the city.

After touring the Rafael Cordero Molina Elementary School playground, Bon Jovi explained that the kids had helped create the plans for the play space.

"But, I have to tell you that it was important for them to participate in the planning because it's in fact the first step in envisioning dreams that can come true," Bon Jovi said. "I mean, if I didn't dream to one day strum a guitar on the world stage, who knows where I would have ended up."

The old playground equipment was taken out and a modern, $83,600 playground with slides, a tunnel, rock wall for climbing and balance beams took its place. The nonprofit KaBOOM! provided the building expertise, and SAP put up the money and the workers. The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation convinced SAP to support a Camden project.

The Foundation is also helping pay to turn vacant lots in Camden into landscaped public spaces.

~ Hath