Report from Vacant Lot Playspace Meeting

Vacant Lot Playspace Meeting
November 14, 2008

Attending: Brooke Rigdon, Jennifer Kramer, Sharon Tinianow, Andy Aichele, Kezia Sproat, Alice Hohl, Sue Alexander, Betsey Loeb, Judi Levicoff
Use outdoor places to teach ‘“ a Reggio Emilia approach (see Wikipedia definition at
‘¢ Parent is the first teacher
‘¢ Teacher is the second teacher
‘¢ Environment is the third teacher
‘¢ Children are capable beings!
Recent Leave No Child Inside Collaborative meeting notes:
‘¢ Mary Ellen O’Shaunessy ‘“ we need to educate the neighborhood on the value of the passive park
‘¢ Rebuild Ohio organization
‘¢ United Way ‘“ revitalize vacant and abandoned property (COSI has a contact with United Way)
COSI’s 2012 Vision ‘“ a birthday present for the city; overlap between the Early Childhood area of focus and the Energy and Environment area of focus
COSI’s Miracle Gro Scholars (after school program) helped revamp the gardens at Weinland Park Elementary School
Playscapes in Action for Children curriculum
Donna Hunter ‘“ Dept of Development City of Columbus; community gardens
Events:
1. Ohio Parks & Recreation Association at convention center in January
‘¢ Richard Louv is a keynote on the first day
‘¢ Children and Nature is a focus
‘¢ LNCI collaborative on the fourth day ‘“what are the best practices?
2. American Community Garden Association Conference is in Columbus in August 2009
Other people we should invite to our next meeting:
‘¢ Audubon Ohio
‘¢ Columbus Metroparks
‘¢ Elayna Grody (her job is being eliminated and her new job is with Public Utilities ‘“ not sure if this will be relevant to her)
‘¢ Kim at Franklin Park Conservatory
‘¢ Bill Dawson ‘“ growing to green program at Franklin Park Conservatory

Next Meeting : Sharon will do a busy search for times; Sue Alexander to host?

Happenings since the last meeting:
Sue Alexander wrote: Wanted to let you know of the great developments after our meeting on Friday. I met with Mr. Steward and located two available ‘lots’. One vacant lot for planting sunflowers etc. The other is a small swimming pool that has been vacant for ten years, This has the potential for a great dirt pile! The grounds are monitored, there is sufficient lighting and it is near other playground equipment.

Colleen Sharkey wrote: I agree that having a dirt pile playspace at COSI is a nice way to change people’s mindsets. And with people paying top dollar for a natural playspace in UA, that can’t hurt. I personally don’t know anyone there (parent/teacher or otherwise). If no one has a contact, can we simply approach them by explaining our idea and asking to see it?

On another note, I reached out to Bill Dawson to ask for advice on designing dirt piles along with community gardens, and he invited me to come to the Franklin Park Conservatory to talk with him about it (see below).

It might be nice for a couple of us to go together. If you’re interested in going with me, please reply to this email with a few dates/times that you’re available, and I’ll get a meeting wizard going.

Kezia Sproat wrote: As I remember, about 25 years ago, Burbank’s principal (can’t remember her name) was far ahead of her time, using a child-centered, perhaps child-directed curriculum. Does anyone else know about this dirt pile? Can someone in the group conveniently check it out? It’s not free and open to the public, I understand, but Cornelia says they do have plain dirt and a hose and the children wear old clothes and are expected to come home dirty.

Another big “selling point” for us: one of Cornelia’s friends pays dearly (almost $2000/month, I think she said) for her young children to have this experience, as pre-Kindergarten and all-day Kindergarten evidently aren’t free in Upper Arlington. If parents in this upscale suburb will pay for their children to play in dirt piles, it should be a lot easier to put them elsewhere.