Disney Cruise Line is expanding The Play Project, a community-led initiative bringing “new energy” to youth sports and play spaces across The Bahamas.
Disney Cruise Line Expanding The Play Project
The expansion will bring upgraded facilities to more islands, now with collaborators like ESPN, including refurbished baseball fields, basketball courts, and track and field grounds in Eleuthera, Nassau, and Abaco.
Eleuthera is home to Disney Cruise Line’s private Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, while Nassau is where all the ships are registered and a frequent destination for sailings. The Abaco islands are just next to Disney Castaway Cay and some port adventures travel to South Abaco.
“Through The Play Project, our teams are working with community leaders in Eleuthera, Nassau and Abaco to provide youth with safe places to play, learn and connect,” said Joey Gaskins, regional public affairs director for Disney Cruise Line. “This next phase builds on the magic and momentum of our first year by expanding to more communities while introducing new sports and strengthening bonds between Disney and our port communities.”
When Disney Cruise Line opened Lookout Cay in 2024, they teamed up with local residents and the global nonprofit love.fútbol to start The Play Project, designing play spaces for Bahamian youth. In the initiative’s first year, efforts were focused on South and Central Eleuthera.
Disney says The Play Project has created more than 32,000 hours of annual play for local children. Six primary schools — P.A. Gibson, Deep Creek, Tarpum Bay, Rock Sound, Wemyss Bight, and Green Castle — received revitalized play spaces with hands-on dedication of more than 230 Disney VoluntEARS, working alongside Bahamian officials, teachers, and students.
This year, The Play Project resurfaced baseball fields at Tarpum Bay, and installed new playgrounds at Emily G. Petty and Emma E. Cooper schools in Eleuthera.
“Disney Cruise Line continues to show its commitment to communities in Central and South Eleuthera with the expansion of the Play Project initiative,” said Hon. Clay Sweeting, Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs and Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera. “Programs and corporate engagement like this are an important part of the incredible economic development Eleuthera is now experiencing.”
ESPN’s “Take Back Sports” initiative will now support The Play Project. “Take Back Sports” aims to reverse the decline in youth sports participation by dismantling barriers such as rising costs and providing free programming to ensure that sports remain within reach, inclusive, and fun for kids.
“The Walt Disney Company and ESPN are working to make youth sports more accessible,” said Kevin Martinez, vice president of ESPN corporate citizenship. “We’re thrilled to support young athletes with resources so kids can take advantage of the many life skills that sports have to offer.”
Disney Cruise Line and love.fútbol will lead community “build days” in Abaco and Nassau this summer.
“We see play as a powerful platform for creating lasting impact for children and the places they call home,” said Manoel Silva, chief operating officer of love.fútbol.
In Nassau, Disney Cruise Line is collaborating with the Buddy Hield Foundation to revitalize the sports spaces at Woodcock Primary School, culminating in a basketball tournament hosted by Bahamian NBA star Buddy Hield himself.
By August 2026, students across the Bahamas will have access to even more rewarding play environments, Disney Cruise Line says.
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