Schools awarded $300,000 grant

By Eddie West Staff Writer

A more than  three hundred dollar grant aimed at improving playgrounds has been awarded to the Smith County school system.

Totaled, the Smith County Board of Education will receive $313,906.

In addition, the school system will provide $78,476 in matching funds.

Through the grant, 18 playgrounds at seven schools and one picnic area will be resurfaced with rubber mulch made from recycled scrap tires. 

The grant is being provided by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s  (TDEC) Tire Environment Act Program.

The total project cost is $392,382 and will provide sustainable play surfaces that meet safety requirements to help protect the school children, TDEC officials say. 

The combined playground surfaces will require 680 tons of rubber mulch which is equivalent to approximately 62,000 scrap tires.

“Rubber mulch has proven to last much longer than wood mulch, which will help the schools to significantly reduce the costs associated with restocking these surfaces each year,” TDEC officials say.

It’s the second grant the school system has received this month from the state.

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