What happens when you have an old vacant asphalt lot just begging for new life?
You turn it into an outdoor classroom.
That was the catalyst behind a project at Mount Washington Elementary School in Baltimore, where an eager group of parents and community members joined students and school staff in raising $170,000 to get things moving.
“The idea actually came to us when an artist came to the school to do a piece of art,” said Becky Redett, chairwoman of the Outdoor Classroom project. “It [developed into] a plan to revitalize the old playground, which is basically an asphalt lot.”
Principal Thomas Shepley could not be reached for immediate comment, but he wrote in a statement that the project has received overwhelming support from parents and the community.
“This project goes beyond bake sales, auctions and school fairs,” Shepley said. “These parents have worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality and I?m so excited to see the bulldozers get to work.”
Friday?s groundbreaking ceremony coincided with Phase I, which began three years ago.
Overall, the goal is to raise $250,00.
But Redett said money already raised will jump-start construction of an amphitheater and labyrinth, as well as drinking fountains and a grand archway. Once converted, the entire space will be used as both a classroom and playground. Students will be able to use the amphitheater for activities such as plays, or to tend gardens as part of science projects.
Students pitched in last February with a penny fundraiser. By the end of May, they had collected morethan 100,000 pennies.
Redett said the pennies, matched by parents? contributions, brought the students? total amount raised to $2,600. Much of the other funding has come from foundation grants, along with money from the Baltimore City Office of Neighborhoods.
Phase II, which begins in the spring, will include plantings on a washed-out hillside at the school, a fence replacement and a climbing structure.
Kelly Mack, PTO treasurer, said her son Andrew, a first-grader, cleaned out all his pennies and came up with a $20 contribution.
“I think we also had great community response,” Mack said. “Not only does this benefit the school, but it helps the community too, as it will be able to use the amphitheater.”
