Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and LCRA representatives present a $14,112 grant to the Rosanky Community Center Association for upgrades to the grounds of its community center. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured seated in front, from left to right, are: Sawyer Badders, Kutter Badders and Steelee Badders, junior association members. Pictured in the back row, from left to right, are: Josh Coy, Bluebonnet's Bastrop-area community representative; Rick Arnic, LCRA regional affairs representative; Fay Meuth-Scoggins, association vice president; Dawn Thompson, association treasurer; Marc Haynes, association president; Galynn Fogle, association secretary; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA board member; and Gregory Klaus, Bastrop County judge.

The Rosanky Community Center Association will make improvements to the grounds of its community center thanks to a $14,112 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The Community Development Partnership Grant, along with $22,050 in matching funds raised by the nonprofit association, will be used to install a new shade canopy over the playground equipment at the Rosanky Community Center. The group also will add solar lighting, a French drain system and xeriscaping.

The Rosanky Community Center Association works to preserve the history of Rosanky while offering a space for the community to gather. Association President Marc Haynes said ensuring playground safety is at the heart of the project.

“We have a playscape right in the middle of everything,” he said. “It’s a fairly elaborate one with a big tower and four slides, but shade is always a good thing to have in Texas.”

The association estimates a shade cover can cool the area by as much as 25 degrees and reduce the effects of the sun’s UV rays by up to 97%. The playground is open to the public 24/7, and the group has received many requests for a shade cover since the playscape was installed in 2017.

“We’ve had a lot of comments from parents that it’s just too hot for children in the summer to go down the slide or climb up the playscape,” said Galynn Fogle, association secretary. “It’s hot to the touch and can burn their hands and legs.”

The shade cover also will provide coverage during brief rain showers.

The association also plans to install solar lighting near its pavilion and playground and install a French drain system and xeriscaping to redirect water flow away from the community center.

“We are a polling place and recently got a new wheelchair ramp for improved access, but it’s left us with this area between the ramp and the building that has water drainage issues,” Fogle said. “We’d like to put in a French drain system with some xeriscaping to help with that.”

The association rents out the community center and playground about 40 times a year to residents of Rosanky and neighboring communities.

“Our building and playscape are available for community functions like birthday parties, baby showers, family reunions, even a small wedding,” Fogle said. “We’re really excited about having this grant. We’ve wanted to make these improvements and get shade over the playground for a while now.”

The community grant is one of five grants being awarded by Bluebonnet and LCRA 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. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative 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 here