Dear Community Member,
Re: Update on the Margaret Brent Schoolyard improvements
As you may know, there is work underway to develop designs for an improved schoolyard at Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle School. The Neighborhood Design Center and its pro bono designers have graciously donated their design expertise and time. This work began over a year ago and there have been a series of meetings with teachers, students and community to establish priorities, share concepts and get ideas. At a meeting in August, over 40 people participated and gave input on a draft design. Feedback has been incorporated into a new design that will be presented to the community in the form of a plan and simple sketches in January – details below. We feel this design has something for everyone: Margaret Brent students, teachers, parents, neighbors, basketball players, gardeners and neighborhood kids.
Following the presentation, NDC’s volunteer designers will refine the plan and create full color drawings and sketches. These will then be used to raise funds to implement the improvements including items such as an upgraded basketball court, play equipment, safe play surfaces and even some new gardens and outdoor classroom spaces.
And to update you regarding recent improvements – the school was the grateful beneficiary of two wonderful pro-bono projects this fall:
- The CSX Volunteer Day – CSX Corporation hosted and paid for a set of improvements, primarily to the raised tot area closest to the school. CSX, City Year, student and community volunteers painted new murals, built an outdoor classroom, benches, raised beds for gardening and planted trees.
- A Healthy Neighborhoods Greening grant – Greater Homewood Community Corporation and Village Parents won a $2000 grant from Healthy Neighborhoods to purchase plants, bulbs, seeds, a composter and teacher resources so students can do more schoolyard gardening.
Please see if you can make it to the Margaret Brent Schoolyard Concept Design Presentation. Details:
Thursday January 19, 2012, 5:30-7:30pm
Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle (100 E. 26th Street)
Website:
Flyer (click to enlarge):
