Schoolyard greening at East End Community School

On Monday March 12 students, parents, staff, and community volunteers gathered at East End Community School for a school grounds design workshop. Funded with a grant from Portland Trails, the process began by assigning participants to teams, who brainstormed ideas for activity centers, fitness equipment, and nature study areas around the school. Kids, including one fifth grader who arrived with a carefully constructed model for a fish pond complete with waterfall and safety fence, did the brainstorming and adults assisted with recording and facilitating. There were great snacks available to help fuel brain cells and design professional volunteers helping with technical matters like how to read a three-dimensional model and site plan.
Then each of the design teams located its suggestions on a large plan of the grounds. Plans have been hung in the hallway between the East End lobby and the cafeteria for review by the public and the East End school community. Next steps: the East End parent teacher organization, the school's landscape architect, Carroll Associates, and Portland Trails will develop a plan for bringing some of the ideas to life.