The City of Grand Junction was awarded a $555,000 grant  that will fund lighting upgrades at four city parks.

The city received the Safer Streets Grant from the Colorado Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Justice.

The Grand Junction Parks and Recreation Department will use the funding for upgraded lighting at Columbine, Hawthorne, Sherwood and Whitman parks. Funding also be used to provide secure storage containers for parks equipment.

The upgrades and storage are intended to improve the usability and safety of parks while deterring vandalism and other crimes.

“The city is focused on ensuring the community’s parks are safe and comfortable, especially with increased use due to warmer weather that is right around the corner,” said Ken Sherbenou, city parks and recreation director. “This generous grant is just the most recent of our efforts to improve the parks with a particular focus on those that are historic and located in the heart of our city.”