The Irving Schoolyard Project has worked for over seven years to bring much needed improvements to the outdoor space at Washington Irving Elementary School (1125 S. Cuyler Ave., Oak Park). This project will create outdoor gathering spaces for teaching and learning, provide safe and accessible recreation areas for the entire community, install a multi-purpose athletic field and serve as a model for sustainable recreation space in urban schoolyards.

This community-driven project represents the very best in public and private partnerships, an open planning process and how to take a long-term, master plan approach to developing public spaces.

As the Irving Schoolyard Project moves forward with efforts to raise both public and private contributions, I support this project. I am aware that Oak Park has a limited amount of public funding for projects across the community, and I strongly believe this project should be made a priority.

For over 50 years, this heavily used outdoor public space has been largely ignored, receiving very little upkeep or improvement. The time is now to make an investment that not only serves to improve Irving School, but would bring much needed recreational space to the whole community.

http://www.irvingschoolyard.com