Ground was broken last summer to transform the 800-square-foot courtyard into a landscaped oasis.
By: Linda Seida
LAMBERTVILLE A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Saturday to celebrate Lambertville Public School’s Outdoor Learning Project in the school’s courtyard.
Ground was broken last summer to transform the approximately 800-square-foot courtyard into a landscaped oasis. Children, teachers and community groups have used the inspiring and peaceful environment for a variety of events and learning activities throughout the school year, but the ceremony this weekend will mark its official opening.
The event is a way to "publicly acknowledge the people who helped" pull it all together with their donations of money, time, energy and vision, according to Steve Wolock of the Board of Education.
The entire outdoor learning area was created with donations, including a lighted sign from the Lambertville Area Education Foundation, Mr. Wolock said. Other donations include landscape lighting, an irrigation system, benches, picnic tables and garbage receptacles to keep the area clean.
Monetary donations totaled $50,000, of which $30,000 came from a state grant, $10,000 from Orleans Homebuilders and $4,000 from Trap Rock Industries. Local businesses and individuals contributed.
The vegetation perennials, shrubbery and some new trees to accompany the older ones is in its infancy. Younger plants helped organizers save money.
"It will take a few years before it’s really in its full beauty," Mr. Wolock said. "We put in babies, and they’ll grow."
For now, the growth to watch belongs to the school’s students. Much of their artistic progress this year will be part of the festivities when their artwork will be up for sale.
Among the offerings will be first-graders’ poetry drawings and creative notebooks, which they worked on with artist Sandra Hanna. Fifth-graders created utensils with artist Valerie Johnson from a 24th-century alien’s perspective.
There will be an auction of a floor cloth created by fourth-graders under the direction of Gabrielle Cantor. They used printing and stamping techniques and heat transfers.
A second auction will feature a garden-theme quilt created by third-graders with quilter Cathie Giambalvo.
Funds raised will be given to the PTA’s after-school enrichment activities for students, according to PTA co-president Debbie Closson.
An extra-special fundraiser will be the sale of limited edition commemorative tiles by artist Katherine Hackl. The round tiles depict an outdoor scene and will sell for $40 each.
Also featured will be musical entertainment by Bob Miles and Bob Lewis. Mr. Miles of Lambertville is a guitarist who created and hosted "The World of Guitar" television series.
Jennifer Sirak, an award-winning children’s librarian from the Lambertville Public Library, will entertain younger children from 6:45 to 7:15 p.m.
At 7:30 p.m., sixth-graders will perform highlights from "Free to Be You and Me" under the leadership of Ginny Brennan of the Downtown Performing Arts Center.
The Union Fire Company will sell hot dogs and hamburgers. A "garden dessert café" will sell homemade goods such as fruit salad, cakes and brownies.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 6 p.m.
The Outdoor Learning Project was first conceived in May 2002. It became a formal community-wide project the following January when input from the community was sought. Various designs were considered over the last several years. Ultimately a design by Kevin Rice of Innovative Landscape Design of Lambertville was approved.
Donors who made the Outdoor Learning Project possible include the sixth-grade class of 2005, Education Management, Finkle’s Hardware, Fluidics, Garefino Funeral Home, Health Care Billing, Kathryn Hall, Jim Mastrich, Lambertville Area Education Foundation, Lambertville House, Lambertville School PTA, Lambertville Station, Lambertville Teachers Association, Lambertville Trading Co., Lynne Butkewicz, Barbara Fordyce, Bob Dahl, The Medicine Shoppe, Orleans Homebuilders, Richard McDonough, River Graphics, Trap Rock Industries Inc. and York Street House.
Participants who helped in the design and planning include Brad Worthington, Jim Hamilton, Kevin Rice, Linda Weber, Michael Burns Architects and Ted Stieve.
For more information, call Ms. Closson at 397-4825.

