Renovations at Craig’s Breeze Street Park are underway and a new playground should be installed by the end of next week.

Dave Pike, director of Parks and Recreation, said $289,700 in funding has been secured for the $664,478 project — enough to install a playground with safety surface and an asphalt parking lot.

Pike said the city had several unsuccessful attempts to secure grants from Great Outdoors Colorado, which are highly competitive, but last November a Colorado Department of Local Affairs grant was approved under the Energy and Mineral Assistance Fund.

The City of Craig matched $144,850 on the grant.

In 2011, the Moffat County School District transferred ownership of the park to the city with hopes of a partnership that would help facilitate improvements.

“I think the city has done an excellent job of taking care of their parks and taking care of kids and families,” said Brent Curtice, MCSD superintendent. “To see the park being used in the right way is always a great sigh of relief when you have a partnership like we have.”

After the transfer, graduate students from the University of Colorado Denver submitted potential layouts for the park. The community and city staff weighed in on the plans before any selection was made, Pike said.

“The entire design process cost the city about $2,500,” Pike said. “So that was money well spent.”

With a concept for the new park established, finding money to complete it was the next step.

Craig Mayor Ray Beck said the project would take place in phases as funding becomes available.

“I just think it’s a great asset and opportunity to provide that park to the community,” Beck said.

In addition to the new playground and parking lot, the park’s renovation plan includes a covered picnic space, restrooms, a cornhole court, horseshoe pits and a pavilion with a grill.

Pike said he has prepared another Great Outdoors Colorado grant application to continue the project but Craig City Council will have to determine if it has matching funds at Thursday’s budget workshop.

Reach Patrick Kelly at 970-875-1795 or pkelly@craigdailypress.com. Follow him on Twitter @M_PKelly.