Organizers met at Tucker Elementary School last week to discuss the transformation of the school grounds. Plans were unveiled which would convert what is essentially a paved parking lot into a lush outdoor space with meadows, orchards and vegetable gardens.

The plans were prepared by Ruth Parnall and Virginia Sullivan of Learning by the Yard, a consultant group which assists schools in designing outdoor space. They were shown to a group of Tucker parents, who have volunteered to assist with the project.

“This was a thoughtful and inspiring presentation,” said Brian Scott, coordinator of the Tucker Outdoor Classroom Project. “It was full of ideas that generated some great discussion.”
Some of the ideas included an expanded entrance area on the Blue Hill Parkway side of the building, with benches for seating; a widened walkway to the school’s gym entrance, which would include a wall trellis and decorative arch; development of the toddler play area; installation of project tables; adding pathways; and removing excess asphalt.

“It’s a fabulous opportunity for the Tucker community to take their blacktop outdoor area and create this green learning space,” said Janet MacNeil, Milton’s Outdoor Classroom Coordinator. “It’s a small area but they can make something incredible out of it,” she said.

The Tucker Elementary School is the third school to develop an outdoor classroom program. Glover Elementary School has a completed area; the high school’s courtyard is in the final planning stages; and Tucker is in the middle of the planning process.

Ultimately, it is hoped that these outdoor classrooms will be a feature at each of the town’s six schools. Pierce Middle School, along with Collicot and Cunningham Elementary Schools, are in the beginning planning phases.

Milton’s outdoor classrooms are paid for by grants and donations. No funds from the public school budget are used to create these outdoor spaces.
“It’s great to see Tucker on board and they’ve assembled a fabulous team,” said Ms. MacNeil.
Any interested parties can review the plans at Tucker School - and offer comment -through Friday, Feb. 25.

-Moira Downes, Milton Times, 2/27/05