A groundbreaking ceremony in St. Paul Wednesday for a project that will significantly enhance the Rondo Neighborhood.
The 2.4 acre schoolyard adjacent to Maxfield Elementary will be transformed into a vibrant, green community space says Maxfield Principal Dr. Leslie Hutchins.
"We're gonna add a nature walk with trees and some native plants to Minnesota," she says.
Designed by students and neighbors, this project is one of the first of its kind statewide.
"That is a testament to what happens when we listen to our kids, when we let them dream beyond the pages of a coloring book," says St. Paul City Council member Anika Bowie.
They add it will provide a great space for thousands who live within a 10-minute walk to the school.
The space will offer pollinator gardens, a micro-forest and basketball hoops.
"We deserve this," Bowie said. "Rondo deserves this. Our families, our elders, our future leaders deserve this. So, as we are here to break ground today, let's celebrate not just what this space will be but what it is. It is a space of hope, resilience, undeniable strength in the Rondo community."
The work is being led by Trust for Public Land with support from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.