The Colorado Health Foundation and KaBOOM! Award Western Eagle County Metropolitan Recreation District with Playground Grant
Kid-designed, State-of-the-art Playground to be Built in Dotsero this June
The Colorado Health Foundation and the national non-profit KaBOOM! awarded the Western Eagle County Metropolitan Recreation District (WECMRD) with a “Build it with KaBOOM!” playground grant that will be used to build a state-of-the-art playground in Dotsero this June.
Prior to Build Day, kids from the local community will come together to draw their dream playground on May 2. Elements from their drawings will be incorporated into design options for the playground. The community will then choose the final design of the playground to be built in one day on June 30.
“We are thrilled and thankful to KaBOOM! and the Colorado Health Foundation for awarding a grant to build a state-of-the-art playground
for the Dotsero community. WECMRD is always striving to serve our entire community. The addition of a playground in Dotsero is an amazing opportunity to better serve our district. This project is a true testament to the power of partnerships with Eagle County Public Health, Our Community Foundation and the Dotsero Mobile Home Park working together throughout the process,” said Janet Bartnik, Executive Director, WECMRD.
The Eagle County Neighborhood Navigator project played a vital role identifying the need for a park in Dotsero. Neighborhood Navigators are community leaders who identify local needs, connect people to resources and lead projects that create change. The Neighborhood Navigator in Dotsero interviewed residents assessing their needs and identifying the urgency of a new playground in the Mobile Home Park due to children playing in an unsafe environment.
“The Dotsero Neighborhood Navigator is proud to represent the residents of Dotsero Mobile Home Park in the KaBOOM! application process with the aim of benefiting children and families with a new place to share and enjoy together”, said Melina Velsecia Monreal, Neighborhood Navigator Lead.
Currently, the Dotsero Mobile Home Park community has no public park or playspace within walking distance and no funds available to build one. The nearest facility is in the neighboring town of Gypsum, CO. The project partners believe that kids and families deserve a safe place to play and recreate – this park will award that opportunity. Along with a kid-friendly playground, the park will also include a fitness station circuit for adults to ensure kids and their caregivers can play together in one place.
This playground is part of the Foundation’s locally-focused work that is designed to harness ideas that are generated at the local level and reflect the community’s needs. Through this partnership, KaBOOM! and the Foundation are creating an oasis where kids feel valued and loved, and where their potential is supported, nurtured and celebrated.
If you are interested in volunteering for the project, please contact Susie Davis with Our Community Foundation at susie@ourcommunityfoundation.org, 970-977-1093.
About Western Eagle County Metropolitan Recreation District
Established in 1980, WECMRD has continually strived to provide the communities of western Eagle County with a wide variety of quality, affordable recreational activities and facilities for youth and adults. The district’s boundaries encompass and estimated area of 840 square miles in Eagle County, Colorado including the communities of Eagle, Edwards, Gypsum, Bond, McCoy, Cordillera, Lake Creek and Wolcott.
About the Colorado Health Foundation
The Colorado Health Foundation is bringing health in reach for all Coloradans by engaging closely with communities across the state through investing, policy and advocacy, learning and capacity building. For more information, please visit www.coloradohealth.org
About KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – especially those living in poverty – the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play. KaBOOM! inspires communities to make play the easy choice and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of PLAYces. KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build or improve more than 17,000 playspaces, engaged more than 1.5 million volunteers and served over 9 million kids. To learn why play matters for all kids, visit kaboom.org and join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom, facebook.com/kaboom and instagram.com/kaboom. #playmatters #PLAYceforKids