The construction team at DPR’s MicroVention project site in Aliso Viejo, Calif. partnered with youth in Playworks’ junior leadership program to transform a 12 x 12 foot barren dirt lot on the school grounds into a colorful space for gardening and creativity. Playworks, a nonprofit organization committed to promoting safe, fun and healthy play at schools across the nation, is based in mostly underfunded schools, so the landscape enhancements were needed by both Playworks participants and the community.

Photo courtesy Maddie Schotl

On the afternoon of March 10, 10 DPR team members came to the school and, together with 15 Playworks participants, transformed the space. The children helped level and prepare the dirt site. DPR crews and the students then moved into place six planter boxes, which had been prefabbed by MicroVention team members earlier that day.

Photo courtesy Maddie Schotl

Working with the DPR crews, the students brainstormed how to create a functional space. They put their math skills to work computing how much dirt would be needed to fill the boxes and got dirty placing and filling the boxes with rock and topsoil readying them for plants that are to follow.

Photo courtesy Maddie Schotl

The construction team at the MicroVention site are already planning their next project with the Playworks youth.