DENVER – The Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Board has approved $659,115 in grants for eight schools in Adams, Boulder, Denver, Huerfano, Gunnison, Jefferson and Ouray counties to build new play yards and areas where children can learn outdoors. The projects are expected to benefit nearly 3,600 children.

Following the success of GOCO's inaugural School Play Yard Initiative in 2013—16 grants were awarded to projects  that are benefiting more than 6,000 children around the state—the GOCO Board announced it would offer a second round of grants this spring. GOCO received 15 applications requesting a $1.3 million in funding, twice the amount of available funds.

One of the cornerstones of the School Play Yard Initiative is a student-led design process, which teaches students about team work, public engagement, a democratic process, fundraising and public speaking. Students at each school awarded a GOCO grant were involved in the design of their new play yards, often presenting ideas and design concepts to city councils, school boards and their peers.

The latest School Play Yard grants will:

  • leverage more than $452,000 in additional funding.
  • directly benefit 3,557 students.
  • serve six schools at which more than 50% of the student body qualifies for the free or reduced lunch program.
  • result in traditional playgrounds, nature inspired play yards, outdoor classrooms, educational gardens, walking paths, shade structures, a weather station and an obstacle course.

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers and open spaces. GOCO’s independent board awards competitive grants to local governments and land trusts, and makes investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Created by voters in 1992, GOCO has funded more than 3,500 projects in all 64 counties without any tax dollar support. The grants are funded by GOCO’s share of Colorado Lottery revenues, which are divided between GOCO, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Conservation Trust Fund and school construction.

GRANT DETAILS:

ADAMS COUNTY
Park Lane Elementary School - Redesign and Improvement
Applicant: City of Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department
Grant:  $100,000
Working with the City of Aurora, Park Lane Elementary officials will use GOCO funds to replace a 40-year-old play structure with nature-inspired playground equipment, build a 1/4-mile walking path with interpretive signage, and plant a Colorado native garden. Park Lane Elementary has 313 students enrolled.

BOULDER COUNTY
University Hills School Play Yard Renovation Project
Applicant: City of Boulder
Grant: $100,000
A GOCO grant will result in a new kindergarten play area at Boulder's University Hills Elementary School, complete with age-appropriate climbing structures, play logs and stumps and painted blacktop games. Additionally, the school will develop a walking path and outdoor classroom for older students. University Hills Elementary School has 443 students enrolled.

DENVER COUNTY
Bradley International School Outdoor Sustainability Project
Applicant: City and County of Denver
Grant: $51,200
GOCO funds will build a shade structure for an outdoor classroom at Denver's Bradley International School, and transform the school's track, built in the 1950s, into an obstacle/training course that benefits the entire community. The school is located one block from the Highline Canal Trail, so students and area children will be able to access the new play yard safely. Bradley International School has 534 students enrolled.

GUNNISON COUNTY
Gunnison Community School Playground Project
Applicant: City of Gunnison
Grant: $67,458
Having partnered with the City of Gunnison, the Gunnison Community School will use GOCO funds to install nature-inspired playground equipment, a learning garden, an outdoor classroom, and a trail that links the school to the Van Tuyl Ranch, a public open space. Gunnison Community School has 749 students enrolled.

HUERFANO COUNTY
La Veta School Playground
Applicant: Huerfano Park and Recreation District
Grant: $71,200
The Huerfano Park and Recreation District will work with the La Veta Re2 School to renovate the school's outdated play area and install new equipment including a climbing structure, basketball court and outdoor classroom with GOCO funds. La Veta Re2 School has 191 students enrolled.

JEFFERSON COUNTY
Green Mountain Elementary Active Play Yard Project
Applicant: City of Lakewood
Grant: $100,000
Using GOCO funds, Green Mountain Elementary officials will install a recreation field surrounded by a walking path at the school, along with a traditional playground area with an ADA-compliant surface, a shade shelter, and colorful maps and games painted on the asphalt. Green Mountain Elementary School has 367 students enrolled.

Kyffin Playground Project
Applicant:  Foothills Park and Recreation District
Grant:  $69,257
Working with Kyffin Elementary School, the Foothills Park and Recreation District will use GOCO funds to install a sand pit at the school with climbing boulders and stumps, an outdoor classroom, new playground structures and a 1/8-mile jogging path around the perimeter of the play yard. Kyffin Elementary School has 590 students enrolled.

OURAY COUNTY
Ridgway's Elementary School Playground Renovation
Applicant: Town of Ridgway
Grant: $100,000
The Town of Ridgway is working with Ridgway Elementary to use GOCO funds to develop a recreation field, build a playground designed for preschool children, and a "Weatherbug" station, a scientific-grade weather station that records 27 different weather measurements in real time. Additional amenities include a basketball court, a climbing wall, and play equipment like logs and boulders. Ridgway Elementary School has 370 students enrolled.

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