Long's 'Concrete Oasis' Serves as Outdoor Learning Space

Long Elementary School’s courtyard recently got a big makeover, thanks to the help of students, staff and parents.

Learn more about the project, from the Lindbergh School District.

The somewhat famous fish and his little pond used to be the only sign of life among what the school had nicknamed its “concrete oasis,” a paved courtyard with a chipped and faded blue paint stream and full exposure to the sun that made it largely unusable.

Now, the courtyard is thriving as a warm, colorful and inviting outdoor learning space for children, with four areas, including: “Character Court,” a quiet, shaded reading area surrounded by colorful banners; “Lindbergh Landing,” with a soft carpet of turf and outdoor chalkboard for classroom lessons; “Free Farm,” which features four raised planter beds, a rain barrel and a composter; and “Rock Island,” with updated greenery, a variety of rocks for students to explore, and the pond for Fish.

Parent Teacher Organization Treasurer Carrie Clay is leading the charge. A former Long student herself, Clay and her husband, Aron, decided to take on the renovations last fall, following a recommendation from Principal Dr. Jana Parker about the best way to use surplus PTO funds. Aron Clay owns Acme Erectors, a Crestwood-based construction company that donated some of the labor and materials. The Clays enlisted the help of a handful of other parents, including Greg Zipfel, who is an architect for BJC.

“This was just a sea of concrete before; it was not a pleasant place to be,” said Zipfel, who drew the plans for the new space. “We want this to be a place where kids can engage and feel like it’s theirs. I can’t wait to see what happens and how the teachers use this.”

The committee started construction at the end of December, hosting weekend work days that drew up to 60 students, plus parents, siblings and teachers to pour concrete, install banner stands, build raised planter beds and plant greenery.

“I remember never using this space when I was a student at Long, and it hasn’t changed in 25 years,” Clay said. “We are excited about turning an underutilized space into something that can really benefit the kids.”

Dr. Parker and her staff could not be more pleased with the courtyard’s transformation.

“We are so grateful to our parents, students and teachers who have created a truly beautiful outdoor learning space that will benefit Long for generations to come,” Parker said. “I can’t wait to see how our teachers and students will learn and grow in their new outdoor learning environment.”

View the project’s progress on Flickr.