Little Panthers Preschool is enjoying new play structures thanks to a grant from Communities Organizing to Promote Equity (COPE) and Heart of Kansas Healthcare. This grant has breathed new life into playtime and the surrounding neighborhood at 21st & Polk by providing a safe place for over 50 enthusiastic students each day and the neighborhood community outside of school hours.
“The grant provides students with a safe and engaging play structure that will nurture their physical, social, and emotional development,” said Khris Thexton, superintendent for USD 428. “In addition to COPE, we also want to express our gratitude for the USD 428 Maintenance & Grounds team for assembling the playground and getting it installed before the start of school this August.”
The play structure located at the First Congregational United Church of Christ at 3400 21st St. in Great Bend, features two towers, a connecting bridge, opportunities to climb, swing, slide, and more. The $5,000 grant also covered the purchase of 4 convertible tricycles that foster the development of motor skills and balance.
For more information about Little Panthers Preschool, please contact the coordinator, Amanda Moran-Jones at 620-793-1662. For additional information regarding the Barton County COPE program, contact the group’s Lead Liaison, Callie Miller, at 620-792-3299.
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About COPE: Communities Organizing to Promote Equity (COPE) is a collaboration formed in Barton County made possible by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and is administered by the University of Kansas School of Medicine (KU Med). The goal of the COPE program is to identify and reduce barriers to health and wellbeing that members of our community face, especially those in high-risk and under-resourced communities. Locally, the COPE action team is currently comprised of 16 members from across Barton County who meet two times a month to discuss and prioritize action strategies based on community need. As part of this effort, the COPE team is building and leveraging partnerships with organizations within our community to bring awareness to resources that are available as well as address gaps. Flor Sanchez is the Community Health Worker (CHW) who is based out of Heart of Kansas Family Healthcare office in Great Bend.