The Navajo Nation is set to see a significant upgrade to its childcare facilities, with President Buu Nygren approving a substantial $24.2 million contract to overhaul playgrounds at 16 centers, a move that was announced on the joyous occasion of Ashkii Happy Kids Day at the Navajo Nation Fair, all this action coming straight from the Office of the President and Vice President itself.
This contract awarded to Exerplay and executed by Navajo-owned Speedy Sales and Services ensures that the children of the nation will soon be playing on new, state-of-the-art equipment, sourced from a company that's had a footprint in the region for over three decades; the upgrades are expected to not only improve recreational spaces but also pave concrete sidewalks, erect shade structures, and install fresh basketball courts, with some of the work focusing on replacing worn plastic grass with more durable, rubber surfaces to withstand the elements, Jeff Terrell, the owner of Speedy Sales and Services, underscored the need for this upgrade, stating "Some of the centers are in disarray and badly in need of renovation," to the Office of the President and Vice President.
Exerplay President Dan J. Gardiner expressed his enthusiasm about the project, stating: "These new playgrounds will bring excitement and endless possibilities to the communities and the amazing children they serve," according to the same official release. President Nygren echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the project's expected positive outcomes beyond immediate playground improvements, highlighting the local job creation and the support of the Native-owned business in the process, this full-fledged investment aimed to fortify the foundations of the children's well-being, their social and cognitive development through play frequently noted as a critical part of human development.
The centers to benefit from the upgrades include, but are not limited to, the Alchini Nizhoni Child Care Center in Shiprock and the Tuba City Child Care Center, with Navajo Department of Child Care and Development department manager Deannah Neswood-Gishey affirming the commitment of the Navajo Nation to provide excellence in child care across all 28 child care centers in the Nation.
