WACO Elementary receives $35,000 for playground

KEOTA — Washington County Riverboat Foundation recently announced over $3.6 million in 2024 spring grants for 24 recipients at their May 15 board meeting. While a large chunk of the money, $2.4 million, will go toward building a new facility for PAWS & More Animal Shelter in Washington, two organizations in the WACO community also will see some of these funds.

WACO Community School District applied for the spring grant cycle in hopes of securing enough funding to replace the ground surface of WACO Elementary’s lower-level playground. According to WACO Elementary Principal Emily Settles, the playground surface has deteriorated due to age and weather and is in desperate need of repair.

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“The tiles are just splitting apart,” Settles described the current rubber title surface held together with a metal frame. “Grounds and maintenance decided spray foam was the best solution this year, but it didn’t go very well.”

While overall functionality dictated the district’s choice to apply for the grant, Settles said that receiving the grant now was perfect timing.

“This will be really good because we actually have a little guy coming to preschool next year who is in a wheelchair, and he wouldn’t be able to access the playground without this grant. So, we’re very grateful,” Settles said. “This is a Godsend that it worked out because the gaps are so big, he truly wouldn't be able to get his chair out there.”

Thanks to a $35,000 grant from WCRF WACO Elementary will be prepared when this scholar takes on recess next year.

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In addition to naming WACO CSD as a recipient, WCRF also announced they will award Wayland Area Childcare Organization with $11,690 for startup support for Little Me & Company which is a nonprofit child care center in Wayland set to open this summer.

Little Me & Company will fill child care needs for families seeking summer, full-time, part-time, and before and after school care right on Main Street.

Complete list of WCRF 2024 Spring Grand Recipients from greatest awards:

$2,405,760 PAWS & More Animal Shelter for new building

$449,578 Washington County Emergency Management Agency for outdoor warning sirens

$414,285 Washington County Hospital Foundation for Kalona Clinic

$49,502 Immanuel Lutheran Church for exterior upgrades

$36,200 City of Keota for Aquatic Center safety/lighting

$35,000 WACO Community Schools for WACO Elementary playground improvements

$34,330 Lake Darling Youth Center, Inc. for Cook’s Cabin Replacement

$22,476 Washington County Emergency Management Agency for county schools stop the bleed kits

$20,000 N-Compass, Inc. for Iowa Project AWARE 2024

$17,451 Washington County Sheriffs Office for Special Response Team Equipment

$16,245 Kalona Public Library Foundation, Inc. for indoor and outdoor projects

$15,000 Golf for Injured Veterans Everywhere Foundation for GIVE Foundation

$14,000 Lone Tree Community School for weight room refurbishment

$13,335 Lone Tree Historical Society for facility upgrades

$11,690 Wayland Area Childcare Organization for Little Me & Company startup support

$11,620 Youth Sports Foundation for youth equipment replacement

$10,375 Saint James Elementary School and Parish for a stair lift

$9,811 Washington County Ambulance for video laryngoscopy acquisition

$8,000 Mt. Pleasant Fire and Rescue for radio upgrades

$7,500 Girls on the Run Eastern Iowa for Girls on the Run Iowa 5K registration fees

$4,350 Community and Family Resources for Washington County office furnishings

$3,500 Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival, Inc. for American flags on display

$3,000 Washington County Fair Association, Inc. for motocross lights

$1,225 Wellman Volunteer Ambulance for Wellman Volunteer Ambulance equipment

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com