LCRA, City of Brady award $25,000 grant for new playground equipment

New playscape will expand options for older students at Brady Elementary School

May 25, 2022

Representatives from LCRA and the City of Brady present a $25,000 grant to the Brady Independent School District for a new playscape. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Erin Corbell, city manager; Michael L. “Mike” Allen, Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, Nancy Eckert Yeary and Carol Freeman, LCRA Board members; Richard Sweaney, Brady ISD assistant superintendent; Hector Martinez, Brady ISD superintendent; Bill Patti, Brady Elementary School assistant principal; Alisha Bullard, PTO and playground committee member; Christy Finn, Brady Elementary School principal; and Steve Dyer, LCRA Regional Affairs representative.

BRADY, Texas – A $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of Brady will help the Brady Independent School District purchase new playground equipment geared toward older elementary school-age children. The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $14,567 in matching funds from the school district, will help the district purchase a new playground set for Brady Elementary School. Students voted on and chose the new equipment. “The students realized this is a unique opportunity that does not come around often, so this is a big event to have something this nice to enhance the playground,” said Christy Finn, principal of Brady Elementary School. The playground equipment will feature balancing challenges to build strength and fine motor skills. Currently, the school can only provide a few activities for older children, including gaga ball and basketball. The new playground equipment will give students in third through fifth grades more options and opportunities to be active. The playgrounds at Brady Elementary School are used frequently outside of school hours by local families. The new equipment will be installed in a large open area at the back of the school, providing both students and children from the community a safe area to play. “The new playground equipment is something the children of Brady will get to enjoy for years to come,” Finn said. “We want the students to take pride in their school and community; they deserve an area that fosters excitement and provides an activity that will encourage overall health.” In addition to the LCRA grant, Finn said the playground is made possible by support from Exxon Mobile, Reliance Architecture, McLemore Janitorial Services and Waldrop Construction. The community grant is one of 36 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. The City of Brady is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program. Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.

About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. 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. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations. For more information, visit lcra.org.

Media Contact
Clara Tuma
512–578–3292
[email protected]