Is there a committee that is part of the Horizons program that may be willing to take on this project? The board stated they would consider funding the planning if an outside group emerged to take on the project itself, especially maintenance. The project proposal included replacing the steps and adding other trails (a part of the larger trails project I proposed several years ago to the various groups in the area that Shirley had been working on, including the city’s efforts to put in sidewalk along 73). However, other parts of the master plan include interpretive exhibits and educational/hands-on exhibits that were selected by the teachers and students during brainstorming sessions, as well as seeking out funds and personnel to create a site-specific, grade-specific curriculum for the site. Additional brainstorming with the higher grades, as well as follow ups with the elementary teachers will be necessary before planning, to be sure our ideas correspond to current classroom needs.

The board’s biggest concern seemed to be maintenance, and they also did not believe that the community supports this project, that only a few teachers use what is already offered and that is sufficient. I know that is not the case, both from my previous work with various groups in effort to establish a support base for the project in the beginning, as well as contacts with various people around the community and information on who has been using the site, etc. As far as maintenance, the two items in place, the living classroom and the butterfly garden, are by far the most maintenance intensive items planned for the site. The board is going to continue maintaining them, so the only maintenance needed by others would be based on what is added to the site.

I have done lots of research into how to design the site so that maintenance is minimal. I also know that design is crucial to controlling amount of maintenance. And, there will be no maintenance involved if nothing is installed, which translates to not making changes until a plan is in place for either a particular section/exhibit, or for the whole area.

Basically, what is needed now is a group to accept this project as its own, and move forward with brainstorming and design. I had asked the school board if they could form an ad hoc committee for this and they declined. The horizons group was my next choice, as there are already groups formed, and many of the organizations and people that supported this project are involved in horizons. I don’t believe any of the current groups that support this project would be able to take this on, and I am not sure if they would want to create an ad hoc committee that included non-members.

I hope you and the other members of the Horizons project are supportive of the outdoor classroom project. Please let me know if you have any interest in taking on this project, and if you have any questions. I am willing to be a part of making this project a success.