Special Funding Opportunity: Active Play Areas
Overview
Background Information
Selection Criteria
How to Apply
Additional Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Overview
The Foundation believes that if kids attend a "healthy school" where they are served healthy meals, have opportunities for physical activity and access to basic health care, then they are better able to learn and maintain healthy habits into adulthood. The Foundation invites school districts to submit applications to increase the number of children who have access to safe, age-appropriate play spaces that promote physical activity during and beyond the school day. Specifically, the Foundation seeks to fund active play areas. School districts would receive funding for construction of new or renovated physical activity areas for children and youth. Grants could support planning, design, equipment and construction of new or renovated playgrounds, sports fields, fitness centers and other active play areas.
Background Information
In Colorado, 28.7 percent of children 2-14 years of age are overweight or obese. Obese children face a risk of becoming obese adults and developing serious chronic health conditions. Combating obesity takes a multi-pronged approach, including education around physical activity and healthy eating, and creation of opportunities to take action. Offering physical activity opportunities in schools supports one essential piece of an overall healthy lifestyle for Colorado's children.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 60 minutes of physical activity daily for children and adolescents, and the majority of the 60 minutes should involve moderate to vigorous physical activity. Nationally, only 5 percent of students get the recommended amount of physical activity in schools. In addition to providing structured, quality physical education, providing access to safe and age-appropriate physical activity spaces, such as playgrounds, sports fields, fitness centers and other active play areas, is another way to ensure that children have opportunities to engage in physical activity during the school day.
Research suggests that thoughtful design of a new or renovated activity space can promote greater levels of moderate or vigorous physical activity and decrease sedentary activity. Areas such as playgrounds, soccer fields, basketball courts, and tennis courts are associated with higher levels of physical activity than other areas, such as open space. Low-cost renovations to play spaces, such as multi-colored markings and designs on ground surfaces, have also been shown to be effective in promoting higher levels of physical activity.
Selection Criteria
Grants for active play areas will be awarded based on the following criteria:
- Applicants must be a school district or charter school.
- Demonstrated need for a new or renovated active play area. Priority will be given to school districts with 40 percent or more students eligible for free and reduced lunch (based on October 2009 student counts)
- Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to design of an active play area that is age- and developmentally-appropriate for the population being served
- Strong rationale for the design of the active play area and the equipment selected for the space
- Plan for sustainability and long-term maintenance of the space
How to Apply
To apply, please use the Colorado Health Foundation's online grant application. We accept proposals that are received prior to one of our regular grant application deadlines. Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. on the deadline date. When these dates fall on a holiday or weekend, the deadline will be the next business day.
In addition to our standard online grant application, please include the following:
- One letter of support signed by the superintendent and school principal(s) showing commitment to fulfill project goals and requirements.
- A project plan (if completed). This may include a design diagram or drawing, site plan, equipment or construction bid/quote and an ongoing maintenance plan. If you need technical assistance to develop and complete a project plan, please provide a description of the overall project goals and the technical assistance needs to begin or continue your planning process.
For questions and technical support regarding your application, please email questions to Monica Lyle, associate program officer or call 303.953.3667.
Additional Resources