BEND, Ore. – During its 97th Annual Conference Thursday, October 6, 2022, the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) presented its 2022 Good Governance Award to the city of Chiloquin for the Chiloquin Elementary School Green Schoolyard project. The award recognizes progressive and innovative city operations and services. This year, the LOC’s Good Governance Award was presented to co-recipients, with the city of Tigard for its Public Safety Advisory committee.
About the Chiloquin Elementary School Green Schoolyard Project
The project was a collaborative effort to enhance the accessibility and safety of the Chiloquin Elementary School playground by incorporating adjacent community spaces, including walking paths and gardening space on the school campus.
The project overhauled the playground area, added a covered basketball court, replaced outdated playground equipment, and added ADA accessibility. The space also incorporated plants and other features that require less water to maintain. The plants will be identified by interpretative signs in English and native Klamath language.
To buy native plants for these areas, Chiloquin Elementary was awarded a National Wildlife Federation grant. The new schoolyard brings much-needed green space to the community and will be open after school hours.
More than a dozen local groups, including The Klamath Tribes, the Trust for Public Lands, the city of Chiloquin, the Klamath County School Board, Chiloquin Visions in Progress, and The Ford Family Foundation, partnered with local teachers, students, and residents to raise more than $1.4 million dollars for the project.
About the League of Oregon Cities
Founded in 1925, the LOC is a voluntary association representing all 241 of Oregon’s incorporated cities. The League helps city governments serve their citizens by providing legislative services, policy setting, intergovernmental relations, conferences and training, technical assistance and publications.