Bill > HB1061

This bill establishes the Community Schoolyards Grant Program in Colorado, which is a two-part initiative designed to create park-like environments at elementary and secondary schools that serve both educational and community purposes. The program consists of two grant components: a Planning and Design Grant Program (offering up to $150,000 per recipient) and a Capital Construction and Improvement Grant Program (offering up to $850,000 per recipient). The primary goal is to address inequities in underserved and underfunded schools by creating outdoor spaces that promote ecological learning, physical activity, and community engagement. Eligible applicants include local governments and school districts, who must develop community-use agreements that allow the schoolyards to be accessible outside of school hours. The grant recipients are required to develop plans through a community-centered participatory design process, incorporating elements like food and pollinator gardens, natural playgrounds, stormwater management, and outdoor classrooms. The program will be funded using $2 million from the Local Government Mineral Impact Fund or Local Government Severance Tax Fund for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years, with the program set to be repealed on January 1, 2030. The bill also includes an appropriation of $50,000 to support the program's administrative costs and requires recipients to report on the grant's impact, including the number of students affected and how the funds were spent.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1061