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Soon, kids will be playing in the shade, as a shade structure will be built over the playground next to the Atmore Community Splash Pad.

The Atmore Rotary Club recently received a grant from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s AL Pro Health to help buy the equipment for the structure. The grant was awarded to help prevent and reduce obesity in Alabama’s high obesity counties, Ruth Brock with the extension office said.

Brock said Escambia County was identified as having an adult obesity prevalence of 40 percent, recently.

Brock said AL Pro Health will be working in other areas in the community to increase access to activities and healthier foods.

Atmore Rotary Club Member Allen Walston said the club is thankful for the grant.

“We’re so thankful to receive the grant for the shade structure,” Walston said. “We hope that this will provide many days of fun for kids to enjoy the playground.”

Walston said Monday that a contract for the shade structure was signed last week. The total cost of the structure is more than $23,000. The grant paid for $11,822.50. The equipment cost includes the medal frame, shade fabric, hardware and drawings. The Atmore Rotary Club will have to pay for the rest.

Walston said the structure will be 30-feet-by-50-feet.

“It will cover the entire playground,” he said.

Walston said the structure should help parents all during the day in the summer.

He said the structure has been ordered, and the turnaround for the project is between six to eight weeks.

With the help of the grant, Walston said the club is considering other improvements to the park.