Pennington designs Harlem playground

NEW YORK, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Celebrity designer Ty Pennington is helping plan and build a donated playground to P.S. 72, a Harlem elementary school.

The host of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Wednesday unveiled "Project Playground," a community-centered initiative he is working on with Shire, a drug company that manufactures medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The former "Trading Spaces" carpenter is a spokesman for Shire and often talks about how ADHD has impacted his life.

Pennington and Shire initiated the project after discovering P.S. 72, which has more than 600 students, had no playground equipment to use during recess and after school.

"So many of my childhood memories are about having fun with friends on the playground at recess and after school and playing sports, too. I know that kids, especially those who have ADHD, need to stay active, and 'Project Playground' will leave these students with an awesome place where they can use their energy and channel their abilities in school and after school," Pennington said in a statement.

"I know, firsthand, the importance of understanding and treating ADHD, and believe that there may be kids out there with ADHD who could benefit from the same kind of support."