Volunteers dig, depave school parking lot
to prepare green space for outdoor project

A forecast of rain and thunder failed to dampen the spirits of 40 energetic volunteers at Mt. Scott High School's outdoor recreation project on Saturday, March 21.

The result was an "Extreme Makeover" transformation of an unsightly gravel parking lot into neatly landscaped areas for planting this spring. Volunteers dug, axed, scooped, scraped, hoed and raked for six hours to prepare landscape beds, improve and add to existing walking paths, and enhance an existing bike shelter.

Local residents and representatives from Depave, City Repair Project, Hands On Greater Portland, Northwest Service Academy, and On-The-Move Community Integration joined forces for the successful "work party" event, which benefitted from sunny skies and comfortable temperatures for much of the day. City Repair Project's T-Horse (a mobile tea house) was on hand to provide free hot tea and homemade chai, and Grand Central Baking Company generously donated an assortment of pastries and bread. A donation from Groundwork Portland funded a pizza lunch for the volunteers.

The goal of the outdoor recreation space project is to create a more inviting feel to the school, teach students skills in landscape design, and allow for future outdoor education and recreation opportunties for the school and surrounding community.

An additional photo gallery of the event, created by professional photographer Shawn Linehan, is available at http://shawnlinehan.com/depave1/