LAKEWOOD — is closer to becoming reality, and Tuesday afternoon at the Lakewood Cultural Center, organizers thanked donors and community leaders for helping to make that happen.
Fundraising began three years ago when found out about falling academic scores and the dilapidated athletic field at the elementary school down the street from his church.
Working with community leaders, Cox helped raise $138,000, which was augmented by a $338,000 Great Outdoors Colorado grant.
Construction is slated to begin this August and will be finished in October.
Students will no longer fight their way through goatheads on the barren playground; instead they will have a new athletic field for baseball and soccer, upgraded playground equipment and a track circling the field.
Speaking Tuesday afternoon to the crowd of about 75 supporters, Lakewood Mayor Bob Murphy said the work done to improve the field is a shining example of community spirit and voluntarism.
“How can kids engage in a lifelong pattern of health and exercise if they don’t have a field to play on when they’re at school?” Murphy asked.
Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com
