LCRA awards $23,999 grant to Rochelle Independent School District

New playground equipment will provide modern, safer place to play

May 28, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • LCRA awards the Rochelle Independent School District a $23,999 grant to replace aged playground equipment.
  • The new playground equipment will provide a safer, updated space for outdoor play, recreation and social development.
  • The grant is one of 41 being awarded through LCRA’s Community Grants program through June. LCRA will accept applications in July for the next round of grants.
LCRA representatives present a $23,999 grant to the Rochelle Independent School District for new playground equipment. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Claylene Gossett, Rochelle ISD business manager; Nancy Eckert Yeary, LCRA Board member; Anna Wolfe, Rochelle ISD registrar; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter and Carol Freeman, LCRA Board members; Amy Wilson, Rochelle ISD principal; Matthew Fields, Rochelle ISD superintendent; and John Palacio, LCRA Regional Affairs representative.
McCULLOCH COUNTY – The Rochelle Independent School District soon will have new playground equipment that will provide students with a safer and more engaging outdoor play environment, thanks to a $23,999 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The LCRA Community Grant, along with $6,000 in matching funds from the district, will enable the district to modernize its playground and replace outdated equipment with newer, safer structures designed for younger children.

The playground is used by students during school days and is available to the public outside of school hours. In addition to improving the campus environment, the new equipment will help encourage physical activity both during and after school hours, and will provide welcoming space for students and local families for years to come.

“Providing additional playground equipment designed specifically for our younger students was something our community recognized as a real need,” said Matthew Fields, superintendent of Rochelle Independent School District.

“About a year ago, when our site-based committee identified this gap, we agreed it was a priority, but we didn’t have a clear path to make it happen,” Fields said. “Thanks to this grant, what once felt like a dream is becoming a reality. Without this support, there is no way we could have afforded a project like this, and we’re excited to see it installed for our students and families to enjoy.”

This is one of 41 grants awarded recently through LCRA Community Grants. These grants are awarded twice a year as part of LCRA’s effort to give back to communities in its wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available at www.lcra.org/grants.

Contact Info

Clara Tuma
512-578-3292
[email protected]
After hours: 512-944-6719

About LCRA

The Lower Colorado River Authority serves communities across Texas by managing the lower Colorado River, generating and transmitting wholesale electric power, providing clean water supplies, operating telecommunications infrastructure, and owning parks for outdoor recreation. LCRA delivers power, water and infrastructure that support the region’s growth and quality of life. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1934, LCRA receives no state appropriations.