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Winner Announced For Take Pride In Akron 2001 Award at |
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Out of nine worthy nominees, one project, individual, business or organization has been recognized for its promotion of one or all of the program areas impacted by Keep Akron Beautiful’s Mission Statement. This year’s winner of Keep Akron Beautiful’s 2001 Take Pride in Akron award is Lincoln Elementary School for their Peace Gardens. Lincoln Elementary School is located at Gordon and Kenyon Streets and at Princeton and Marion Place, between South Crosier, South Main and Miller. The project was started two years ago by Dave Golya, school counselor, when he asked Let’s Grow Akron to prepare the two lots for vegetable gardening. These lots became available as a result of several drug houses being demolished in 1993 by the Akron Health Department’s Project Happen. The staff of Lincoln School, with the assistance of students age 5-12 years, adult neighbors and local organizations came together and started three vegetable and flower gardens. The Men’s Garden Club helped students prepare the soil and start the seedlings in containers. The students measured the plants weekly and designed the garden. During June and July parents and students met weekly to weed and water the plants. They also picked up trash and litter in the area. In August they gave flowers and vegetables to the elderly and handicapped at the Williams Tower, Catholic Worker Homes, and to the homeless. When school began on August 29, 2001, each student and their family was invited to work the gardens. This became a focal point for learning. Students are creating garden journals, writing stories and drawing pictures. The students and adults meet weekly to harvest vegetables, herbs and flowers and will soon be composting the spent plants from the three sites. This fall, Crown Point Ecological Center will partner in this project. They will teach the group how to use mulch and prepare for the spring garden start-up. Next March some of the fourth graders will spend four days at the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center to learn more about caring for their environment. This project is a wonderful example of how a neighborhood comes together to improve their quality of life. ### |
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