Patrick Henry Playground Closed – Bayscape – Volunteer Opportunity

Anyone driving down Semmes has seen the ongoing construction at the Patrick Henry Building. Construction is moving along fine and everything in on schedule for wrapping up in November. Next week expect to see some dramatic changes to the outside of the school as well as work begins on the Historic Bayscape. Unfortunately this is going to require some heavy equipment so the playground will be closed to the public for approximately 4 days, Monday – Thursday next week (10/24-10/27). Read on to find out more about the Bayscape and a chance to help fight erosion on the playground next Saturday.
The History Bayscape is a terraced garden that will be filled with native shrubs, grasses, and perennial plants that were used by Native Americans for a variety of functions. This garden will be planted and maintained by second graders who focus on Native Americans in social studies and it will provide endless opportunities to integrate science with social studies, reading, writing, and math. In addition, the terraces of the History Bayscape are designed to alleviate erosion problems on a slope by the playground and dovetails with the PHSSA commitment to good environmental stewardship of the Reedy Creek watershed. The entirety of this work is being funded through the NFWF (National Fish and Wildlife Foundation) grant for stormwater surveying and run-off water improvement.

Saturday promises to be a busy day. In the morning 40+ volunteers from HandsOn Day will attack one of the slopes to fight erosion. That event is full to capacity but if you want to help there is another event just for you.

That same afternoon is a chance for members of the community to help out. A PHSSA volunteer workday is scheduled for on Saturday, October 29, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. If there is remaining work to be done on the front slope, it will probably consist of spreading mulch and planting some shrubs/small trees. Other activities may include some planting in othe areas, putting together the remaining two vegetable beds, starting invasive plant removal, weeding and maintenance of Butterfly Bayscape beds, and general clean-up of the grounds. Contact info for volunteering is info@patrickhenrycharter.org.