FOCUS funds finance new playground equipment, recording system Published Aug. 17, 2009 By Angela Cutrer 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Thanks to FOCUS funds available from Air Education and Training Command, officials at the Youth Center and Children's Development Center at Keesler Air Force Base plan on their facilities being a whole lot more fun and even a bit more secure for children this time next year. "Every year we are encouraged to identify large quality-of-life projects we would like to pursue," said Ann Smith, youth programs director at the Youth Center. "And we looked at all the things on our special-needs list and go from there." What made it off the list this year? Try a special digital recording system for the already installed security system in place and special playground equipment for each center. The youth center's closed-circuit television system will be enhanced with a digital recording system. "It will help us supervise and protect children, as well as protect the employees at youth center," Smith said. "We also asked for the digital recording system so we can record throughout the day so if an accident/incident occurs, we can hopefully go back and review the circumstances. It adds another level of security for everyone." The CDC playground project will create a more age-appropriate outdoor play area for infants. The youth center playground enhancement will involve replacing older equipment that wasn't challenging for school-age children, Smith said: "We're building a sort of challenge/fitness course that includes rock climbing, balancing, and other kinds of skills and strength building activities." The availability of FOCUS funds depends on the "focus" of command each year. "Some years, it's fitness centers, dormitories, and some time it's child and youth development centers," Smith said. "We were lucky enough that this time it was (the latter)." The command sets aside $2 million annually for the sole purpose of funding quality of life initiatives, notes a memorandum from AETC. Thanks to receiving $97,000 of focus funds for all three projects, Smith and her co-workers feel that the installation will enhance the quality of life for the children at the centers and for base-wide events for parents and children. Construction could begin later this fall and Smith hopes by next summer the new equipment will be installed and ready for play. "I can see the playground being great for the whole base," she said.