Children in the small town of Atoka, Oklahoma, have songs in their hearts and dirt on their clothes thanks to country-music star Reba McEntire and many volunteers, including the Southeastern Oklahoma State University softball team.

McEntire, a 1976 graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma State, was honored a few months ago with the inaugural Home Depot Humanitarian Award, a fan-voted award she received during the annual CBS telecast of the Academy of Country Music Awards. With that award came a piece of Tiffany crystal and a chance to do something really special. McEntire received the choice of cities that she wanted for a KaBOOM! playground to be built in her honor, and she chose Atoka.

KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit organization that brings together corporations, communities and individuals to create healthy playgrounds for children.

"My family has lived in the Atoka area of Oklahoma for generations," McEntire said "I wanted to help provide a playground for the children of the hard-working people of this small town."

Members of the Southeastern Oklahoma State softball team were thrilled to help out. Atoka is only about 30 minutes north of Durant, where the school is located.

"Members of our team jumped at the idea to help out the Atoka community," said head softball coach Travis Scott. "I am extremely proud of their thoughtfulness and willingness to help. We had fun. We had a chance to work with other members of the area and really do something good for the children of Atoka."

About $40,000 worth of playground equipment, provided by Home Depot, the sponsor of McEntire's award, had to be assembled at the location. Also included were park benches, picnic tables and landscape materials, including trees, shrubs and perennial plants. The playground has equipment designed for children ages two through 10, and it's also handicapped accessible.

What people in Atoka will remember though, is that the playground was made possible by the area's most famous former citizen and the community coming together.

"It was exciting the we were a part of this project," said junior infielder Christina Armstrong. "We had a great time, and the experience to be involved with the community was amazing.