Fairmont Elementary is getting a new grass field due to the generous support of private and public donors and the surrounding community. Volunteers from Americorp, the National Adult Baseball Association, Fairmont, and the neighborhood will all be laying sod this Saturday, September 15 and Sunday, September 16, at Fairmont Elementary (520 W. 3rd Ave.), from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The greening of Fairmont's playfield is just one facet of the campus improvements currently under construction. "This is going to be such a metamorphic change for the school," said Charles Burdo, the Project Manager for Denver Public Schools. "The school and community have been trying for years to improve their playgrounds. They are very excited about this next phase of the project since their tree planting in May 2001 was so successful!"

Fairmont's playground project has been funded through the "Learning Landscape" program. This program is an entrepreneurial community-minded alliance of public and private interests that seeks to strengthen Denver Public Schools and their surrounding neighborhoods by designing new multi-dimensional playgrounds and social gathering places. Financial support for Fairmont includes the Mayor's Office (Neighborhood and Housing Development Services), The Gates Family Foundation, Donnell-Kay Foundation, The Piton Foundation, Denver Public Schools, and the University of Colorado at Denver (UCD).

Graffs Turf Farms Inc. located in Ft. Morgan, Colorado is providing the 61,100 square feet of sod for the project. A portion of this amount has also been graciously donated by this community-conscious business. The sod is being laid for a grass playfield on the eastern half of the property.

The "City 7" Renovation Program for this year includes Greenlee, Fairview, Swansea, Cowell, Whittier and Smedley Elementary schools. Fairview's project was completed in August while Fairmont and Swansea are currently under construction.