Six Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) elementary schools have used funds from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) to improve their playgrounds and schools. The money from DECAL’s $1.3 million Health and Safety Grant was awarded to the YMCA (The Y) of Metro Atlanta and was used to enhance afterschool program facilities, ensuring a safer environment for students. The GCPS schools benefiting from the upgrades are Cooper, Graves, Mulberry, Nesbit, and Stripling elementary schools.

      “This support from DECAL and the YMCA of Metro Atlanta aligns with our priority to provide safe and meaningful after-school care programs,” says GCPS Director of Community Schools Soraia Santos-Felgenhauer. “We appreciate this opportunity to strengthen the family-community connection.”

     The Y partnered with both GCPS and Fulton County Public Schools to upgrade facilities at select school sites where its afterschool programs operate. In total, 12 YMCA of Metro Atlanta sites, five Gwinnett County schools, and 32 Fulton County schools were improved. The upgrades included new playground structures, adaptive play areas, sunshades, walking tracks, and ADA-accessible ramps, all designed to meet health and safety standards. All facility improvements began in 2023 and were completed by August 2024.

     “DECAL’s Health and Safety Grant allowed us to significantly enhance metro Atlanta students’ indoor and outdoor experiences by upgrading equipment and creating thoughtfully designed areas to promote physical health and safety,” says Lauren Koontz, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. “The Y’s afterschool programs provide children with opportunities to learn and grow in a welcoming environment, and we’re grateful to DECAL for helping us improve facilities to better support students’ well-being.”

For more information about the YMCA of Metro Atlanta and its afterschool programs, please visit https://ymcaatlanta.org/learning/afterschool.