Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Governor Beshear announces Webster grants

DIXON, Ky. (April 17, 2008) – Two Webster County playground projects have received crumb rubber grants, Governor Steve Beshear announced today.

The city of Providence received $15,816 for replacement of existing insufficient playground cover at Westerfield Park. This park, located near Providence Elementary School, is a high-traffic facility used year-round by all ages. 

Clay Elementary received $16,466 to apply crumb rubber to a playground that is currently shutdown for safety reasons. The playground is open to public use during nonschool hours.

The Webster County grants were among 43 grants totaling almost $1 million awarded recently from the Waste Tire Trust Fund managed by the Environmental and Public Protection’s Division of Waste Management.

Beshear said the crumb rubber grants are a sign of the partnerships needed to promote the use of recycled materials.

“The city of Providence and the Webster County Board of Education are working to not only improve playground facilities, but helping the environment by using recycled crumb rubber material for these areas,” Governor Beshear said.

The fund was established by the 1998 Kentucky General Assembly to receive a $1 fee from each sale of a new tire in the state. The money is used to manage the 5 million scrap tires generated in Kentucky each year and to develop markets for recycled tire products.

Crumb rubber, made from recycled scrap tires, is used for mulch on playgrounds, for fitness/walking tracks, landscaping and for reduction in soil degradation on athletic fields.

Grants this year are going to projects involving playgrounds, athletic fields, fitness/walking tracks, a gym floor and horse stall matting--a University of Kentucky Research Foundation project at the Kentucky Horse Park.