Flint board accepts philanthropic playground program, outlines community co‑design timeline
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Summary
Trustees approved a Mott/Charles Stewart‑supported playground initiative for five elementary schools and heard a co‑design timeline with community advisory committees, student focus groups, conceptual renderings and gallery walks with planned openings in summer.
The Flint Board of Education on Feb. 17 approved a philanthropic playground initiative and heard details of a community‑driven co‑design and construction timeline for five elementary schools.
Superintendent Jones and partners described the project as funded by philanthropic partners; presenters said Flint Community Schools was an early recipient of substantial philanthropic support for playground renovations. “Flint Community Schools is the first recipient with just over $7,000,000 given to Flint Community Schools to renovate elementary [playgrounds],” a presenter said, and staff also referenced additional foundation support for multiple playground projects from partners including the Charles Stewart Foundation.
The board heard a community co‑design process organized in three overlapping sprints: a March 2–20 sprint focused on student focus groups (K–3) and stakeholder surveys; an April 6–17 sprint to share conceptual renderings and hold gallery‑walk feedback; and a May 4–June 30 sprint to finalize designs and begin construction. Presenters named Durant, Terry, Mott, Joel Ryder and Eisenhower (phase 1 sites) with Freeman and Potter as sites tied to city parks, which have an August completion target because of coordinated city work.
Dr. Jamieson, who described the approach as “co‑design,” emphasized that advisory committees should include school leadership, neighborhood residents, parents and students so that designs reflect local preferences and accessibility needs. Val Newman, a community school director who participated in the Brownell‑Holmes pilot project, said residents and children were deeply engaged in the earlier process and called the resulting playground “the playground of dreams.”
Trustees volunteered to serve on school‑based advisory committees for each site and the board approved the CS Mott playground grant (Action Item 21.4) by roll call (7 yes votes). Board members emphasized salvaging historical elements, coordinating with the city on park‑attached sites, and ensuring the process includes accessible features and opportunities for neighborhood ownership.
Staff said contractor RFPs for related projects (demolition and high‑school work) will be posted in the coming days with bid openings and recommended award schedules provided in subsequent board packets. Construction for playground sites not attached to city parks is targeted to be substantially complete by June 30; Freeman and Potter (city‑park sites) are targeted for completion by Aug. 7.