UKIAH—Two playgrounds at the Grace Hudson Language Academy in Ukiah will soon receive a major renovation thanks to $250,000 state budget allocation secured by Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) for the Ukiah Unified School District.

TK-5^th grade students at Grace Hudson, a dual immersion Spanish language school, hosted Senator McGuire last week to discuss the much-needed playground upgrades, along with their hopes and dreams for the future. The playgrounds serve the students during the school day and are heavily utilized after school hours and on weekends by kids from surrounding neighborhoods.

“Grace Hudson is a special place, welcoming students from all backgrounds, and delivering an amazing education that prepares these incredible kids for a multicultural world. We all know playgrounds are the heart of every school, and these students deserve the very best. These funds will help expand and modernize the big toys at Grace Hudson which have been in need of TLC for quite some time. I’m grateful to the Ukiah School Board, Superintendent Kubin, Principal Evans, and the dedicated teachers and staff at Grace Hudson for making this project a reality,” said Senator McGuire.

“We were excited to welcome Senator McGuire to Grace Hudson Language Academy to celebrate this critical funding to help revitalize our TK and elementary school playgrounds. The students loved sharing their ideas and songs with him—it was a blast. Our heart is full of gratitude for Senator McGuire!” said Ukiah Unified School District Superintendent Debra Kubin.

Design and construction of the playground renovations will begin in 2026.

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Mike McGuire is President pro Tempore of the California Senate. He represents the North Coast of California, which stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, including Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin Counties. Website of Senate Leader McGuire: https://sd02.senate.ca.gov/