The three Mapleton schools on the Clayton/ Bertha Heid Campus in Thornton didn’t win the lottery, but the kids who will benefit from new playgrounds — funded by a Great Outdoors Colorado grant — may feel like they did once it is completed.
On Wednesday, lottery-funded GOCO awarded $199,974 for a plan to renovate dilapidated playgrounds on the sprawling campus, improve recess safety for the students who attend school there and to create a neighborhood amenity.
“Mapleton is a distressed district,” said Adams County Community Development spokeswoman Jacqui Pickett. “This project will provide a safe environment for the kiddos to play in and will bring the community together.”
The community-development office applied for the grant on behalf of the school district.
The grant process is competitive, said GOCO spokeswoman Chris Leding. In this grant cycle — awards are made in June and December — 91 applicants sought $17.5 million. Out of those, 51 organizations landed a total of $8.65 million, for projects as varied as baseball-field renovations and an open-space acquisition in Gunnison, and construction of a park restroom in Pagosa Springs.
Colorado Lottery proceeds fund GOCO. This year, GOCO received $56.3 million.
The Clayton/Bertha Heid playground renovation is estimated to cost $319,454. In addition to the grant, Adams County received a cash award from the Colorado Health Foundation for $91,529. The school district also has been busy fundraising.
“This project is absolutely not possible without the grant,” Pickett said.
Achieve Academy, Explore Elementary and Clayton Partnership school share the Clayton/Bertha Heid campus. About 1,250 students between ages 4 and 13 are enrolled in the three schools. About 4,300 people live within walking distance of the campus.
“Our children need a lot of support in order to ensure they learn well in school,” said Mapleton Superintendent Charlotte Ciancio. “Safe play spaces are a big piece of that. These playgrounds are welcomed, much needed and wonderful additions.”
Cotillion Gibbons: 303-954-1638 or cgibbons@denverpost.com
