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Research and Creative Work
In the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver, students and faculty engage directly with our vibrant city, dynamic community, and magnificent landscape by working on real projects that make a real difference.
Kyffin Elementary
Date: 11/1/2013
Principal Researchers:
- Project Team: Dan Wheeler, Byungsun Yang, Benjamin Wurzer
- Local Participants:Tina Hageman, Grant Coordinator, Michele DeAndrea-Austin, Principal, local PTA committee members
Kyffin Elementary was opened in 1972 and is part of the Jefferson County School District R-1, serving students from Kindergarten through 6th grade. The school has received the John Irwin School of Excellence Award for ten years running and has a high level of parent involvement. The schoolyard contained a mixture of play equipment of varying ages and pea gravel created a slipping hazard when it traveled across walkways. There was also little opportunity for afterschool use of the schoolyard, which is located in a suburban neighborhood.
An active PTA and motivated school staff gathered input from community members and students on what improvements they wanted to see in their schoolyard. CCCD students developed a preliminary schoolyard master plan that includes a challenge course, climbing wall, swings, shade structures and a grass field for sports activities. In partnership with the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation, Kyffin Elementary has submitted a grant application to GOCO for funding this project, with a successful local fund raising activity to support implementation.