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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 08-06 A peace pole amidst a profusion of plants MAPLEWOOD REVIEWLinda Baumeister/Review ;31layschool Child Care, Inc. in Maplewood held a dedication of its peace pole luring the family fun night Aug. 1. Now one of over 200,000 peace poles in the world, peace is the focus at the entrance to the school property. The Muhammad Ali Peace Center provided the initial funds to begin peace -centered activities and gardening programs for the youth. AUG - 61014 = Eaft t A peace pole akmmNdw AM Oldft Aoftk a profusion of picantw Watershed district helps Child Care, Inc, to culminate a long series of events that have led to improved e Playschool create five ronmental, conditions surrounding the daycare building on White Bear Avenue, rain gardens just north of Larpenteur Avenue in Maplewood. Tim Faklis The ceremony was a time for young - Review staff sters' families, former students and edu- cators to come together to reflect proudly A peace pole ceremony was held the evening of Friday, Aug. I at Playschool see 'Ra-in garden on page 3 Kain d 4 continued from page I gardens designed to help manage excessive water runoff. On the work they had done, With help from the up to that point. watershed district, and The daycare is located in funds from the Muhammad a former public school, and Ali peace center in Georgia, for many years experienced the school kids were able to drainage issues following get their hands dirty help - rapid snow melts and heavy ing create the gardens. rainstorms. "Water was a huge issue "This property has been on this property,"" Solheim used for educational pur- said. "We did a bunch of poses and kids since 1904, research for rain gardens. and it was also an elemen- Kids would research flow- tary school called Hillside eTS, weather and other Elementary in the 1940s things that helped bring the and 1950s," said Mary Sol- project together. it turned heim, the center's director out to be a great learning of education. "Since 1992, experience for the kids and this property has been used a great addition to the prop - as a child education center."11 The staff members r1i LY_ She added that many emphasize that people of families, friends and the all ages can be good envi- employees of Playschool ronmental stewards, even dedicated time, energy and preschoolers, Solheim, said. materials to support the So when they received an project. offer of assistance from the The peace pole ceremony Ramsey -Washington Metro, was a chance for every - Watershed District to cor- one to come out and see rect drainage problems, the completed landscaping they decided it would be an project and the profusion�of opportunity to incorporate colorful perennials that can rain gardening into the cur- tolerate both wet and dry riculum. soil conditions. It took three years for the ,Our contribution going school to create five rain Linda Baumeister/ Review Annie and Carson, 5'1/2, talk about the new peace pole and garden plantings at Playschool Child Care, - Inc. in Maplewood following the dedication ceremony. The Ramsey -Washington Metro Watershed District helped to incorporate five rain gardens into the cen- ter's landscaping to better control excessive water runoff. into the future is adding a symbol of what the philoso- phy is for education here," S61heim said. "Each interac- tion with children, adults and families begins with a place of peace. We want it to be that symbol as people drive by."" You can reach Tim Faklis at 651-748-7814, at tfahlis@ lillienews.com, or on Twitter @tfaklisnews.