A $20 million commitment from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation will provide refreshed spaces at Flint parks and school playgrounds in the coming year.
The Flint Community Schools Board of Education voted at its meeting on February 18 to accept $7 million of those funds in support of renovations at five elementary schools: Durant-Tuuri-Mott, Eisenhower, Freeman, and Potter elementary schools and the Doyle Ryder Education Center. Renovations at those schools are expected to be completed by the end of the summer, in time for next school year.
“We’re excited to help create spaces where Flint kids can play, learn and grow,” said Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Mott Foundation, in a news release. “Not only will these playgrounds serve students during the school day, they’ll also be a resource for everybody who lives in those neighborhoods. We’re looking forward to working alongside FCS and the community to create outdoor spaces that truly meet their needs.”
Stakeholders including students, FCS staff, and nearby residents will be able to provide input and feedback in the design process so that the renovations fit the needs of those areas in the city. Part of the goal in that process will be to better connect the schools to the surrounding neighborhoods. FCS and the Flint Center for Educational Excellence will work together to gather feedback.
“Our scholars and families deserve high-quality spaces to play and be active,” said FCS Superintendent Kevelin Jones in a news release. “We’re committed to working with our school communities and neighbors to design playgrounds that reflect what our children and families want and need. This is about creating spaces that bring people together.”
Additionally, other funds in the $20 million pledge will support projects that improve and activate outdoor spaces for children and families in neighborhoods and parks. The Mott Foundation plans to launch an online voting website in the spring that will collect input from Flint residents about which parks to prioritize with that funding and what improvements residents would like to see in them.
The grant is part of the Mott Foundation’s many initiatives planned as it celebrates its centennial in Flint this year.
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