Lottery money to be used for playgrounds in El Paso County
Story By: Bea Karnes
Source: KOAA
Published Wed Jun 25, 2008, 10:13 AM MDT
Updated Wed Jun 25, 2008, 10:13 AM MDT
Two projects in El Paso County will receive lottery money from Great Outdoors Colorado. The $230,000 in grants will be used to build playgrounds.One in Memorial Park is designed to provide universal accessibility for people of all abilities, and a playground will be added to Drayton Green Park in the Falcon Hills neighborhood.
A joint endeavor of the City of Colorado Springs and the Swing High Project, the 2.7-acre Swing High Park in Memorial Park will be 70% independently accessible for children with disabilities. Planned features include ramped play structures, universally accessible pathways and surfacing, swings with back support, and elevated sand tables and activity panels where children of all abilities can play together. Additionally, the City will construct an ADA accessible restroom and parking lot.
In Drayton Green Park playground equipment, playground surfacing, and a gazebo-styled shade shelter will be added.
The grants are part of 47 awarded by the GOCO Board for open space, planning and local park and outdoor recreation projects to close out its fiscal year.
Great Outdoors Colorado is the result of a citizens’ initiative passed by Colorado voters in 1992. GOCO receives approximately $53 million annually from Lottery proceeds, and directs those funds to projects that protect and enhance Colorado’s parks, wildlife, trails, rivers and open space. Since 1994, projects in El Paso County have been awarded $43.6 million.
