University Hill Elementary wins GOCO grant for playground improvements

Kindergartners Jacobi Olivaras, left, Daelin Krutsinger and Allan Robison play on the jungle gym at University Hill Elementary on Thursday. The school recently was awarded a $100,000 Great Outdoors Colorado grant to build a new playground and add other outdoor features. (Mark Leffingwell / Daily Camera)

University Hill Elementary School's aging kindergarten and preschool playground is getting a nature-inspired makeover.

The school recently was awarded a $100,000 Great Outdoors Colorado grant to build a new playground and add other outdoor features.

Altogether, GOCO awarded $659,115 to eight school play yard projects across the state using lottery proceeds. The grants require the schools to partner with local governments; University Hill is partnering with Boulder's Parks and Recreation Department.

Last year, 16 schools also won $1.5 million in the first round of school play yard GOCO grants, including Boulder's Horizons K-8.

Horizons is using the money to build a new adventure and nature play space after losing much of its playground in a remodel. The remodel left only one play structure for 340 students, and the school's playground was the only one in the Frasier Meadows neighborhood.

Tina Briggs, of Boulder's Parks and Recreation Department, said the city is excited about working with another school.

"It provides additional opportunities for play in the neighborhood," she said. "Nature play will be a really fantastic addition."

Principal Ina Rodriguez-Myer said University Hill's PTA has been "saving and saving" to pay for playground improvements. But with more than half the students qualifying for federally subsidized lunches, she said, raising the needed money hasn't been quick.

The grant allows the school to tackle the most pressing need, the preschool and kindergarten playground, she said. The playground equipment is old, not made for students that young and wouldn't meet codes if installed today.

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University Hill Elementary wins GOCO grant for playground improvements