MEEKER | In the spring of 2019, Meeker Elementary was awarded two grants to improve the quality and add age-appropriate equipment to the preschool playground. The Buell Foundation invests in quality programs that can demonstrate success in helping children thrive. The Buell Grant of $55,000 was supplemented with $5,000 in-kind money from the school district and provided new playground structures and equipment. The National Wildlife Federation awards Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) grants to help young children in Colorado have daily access to quality outdoor learning environments. The Elementary was awarded a $5,000 ECHO grant to help enhance the new playground. The ECHO team has designed an amazing learning environment that includes a tricycle path among other learning stations.
This project has come to fruition because of the generous help and work of many people. The district custodial staff, with the help of Jeremy Muxlow’s tractor, removed the old structures to prepare for the new equipment. After the initial installation of the equipment, the ground needed prepped and dug out to pour the tricycle path. Marvin Reynolds, Joe and Kacey Sullivan, Becky Brennan Bauer, Shelly Reynolds, Brennan Jensen, Karlee and Colton Nielsen, Jose Garcia, Mayra Zubia and Obie, Elijah and Liam Deming donated hours of shoveling and use of equipment to prep the area for concrete to be poured. Luke Renninger and his crew set the forms for the track and did the concrete work that was donated by Meeker Sand and Gravel and poured by Dan Conrado and crew. The first phase of the project is finally complete and students are enjoying the new equipment and outdoor learning areas. This spring, we will work to continue adding the components drafted by the ECHO team. We will be soliciting help to build items mostly made from upcycled materials to finish the project as planned. The students are loving their new area!
Special to the Herald Times
