Chester A Arthur elementary school, located at the intersection of 20th and Catharine Streets, will be getting an exciting new addition in the coming weeks. The school controls the entire block, with the building running from Catharine Street to Webster Street, and about 1/2 of the way down the block to the west. The schoolyard takes up another quarter of the block, and a faculty parking lot covers the rest.

From 21st St., looking east

The schoolyard at Arthur, while utilized by kids at recess and children/dogs (ideally not at once) after school hours, is a concrete jungle with a couple of basketball hoops, a faded hopscotch court, and numerous patches of deteriorating asphalt. Members of Friends of Chester Arthur (FoCA), a non-profit group dedicated to partnering with teachers and the school administration to help make Arthur the best school it can possibly be for the neighborhood, are working on a plan to transform the schoolyard and are preparing to initiate the first phase of this project with the construction of a new playground.

Heavy equipment and a couple of guys working on the site

Last week, a new chain link fence and a shipping container arrived at Arthur. Today, we spotted a crew of workers prepping a site immediately next to the school. Next week, on June 1st, at 12pm, volunteers will assemble a playground for children, ages 5-10. A few days later, the rubber padding around the playground will be installed. And on June 11th, at 10am, an official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place, dedicating this new play space for the rapidly multiplying youngins in the area.

Site plan

Playground rendering. Looks like way too much fun.

Funding for the playground is coming from a generous grant from AmeriHealth Mercy, but additional funding for landscaping, signage, and benches is still required. SOSNA has pledged up to $5,000 in matching funds for money that FoCA is able to fundraise. Do you live in the neighborhood? Do you have little kids? Do you want to donate a couple of bucks to this worthwhile cause? If so, click here.

After this success, FoCA will continue to focus on efforts toward crafting a master plan for the Arthur schoolyard, which will hopefully someday include additional play areas, a multi-sport athletic area, and a green space with a sitting area for neighbors. If FoCA is able to accomplish all of this, not only will Arthur become a better place for students, but it will transform into a center for the community as well.

Can’t wait to see the rendering become a reality in the next couple of weeks.