Ossining Students Create Visions for Improving Local Park

Like other children their age, students in the Anne M. Dorner Middle School Summer Academy spent time at local parks in July.

Unlike their peers, though, the roughly 125 middle-schoolers had a mission beyond enjoying what is currently on the grounds. They homed in on Nelson Park and developed ideas for improving the venue.

Their “Revitalize Ossining” proposals ranged from the practical – more garbage cans, restroom improvements and a new drinking fountain – to the whimsical – a pool for dogs. Other students suggested a rope course, a soccer field, a water park, a small store that sells healthy food, a performance venue and a skateboard park.

Assistant Principal Elizabeth Mercado, who ran the academy with Assistant Principal Dulce Barker, said the project-based learning helped children develop important 21st century skills, such as collaboration and teamwork; creativity; leadership development; problem-solving; and critical thinking and communication using reading, writing and math. Students who are learning English also participated in the Summer Academy.

Students had to write an essay after their first visit to Nelson Park – located on Washington Street and Route 9 – and did a follow-up essay at the end of the program. “We are so impressed with the growth that you have shown,” teacher Rebecca Sutton told the children at the Summer Academy celebration this week.

For the math portion of the “Revitalize Ossining” project, students calculated geometrical aspects of the park, as well as a budget, expenses and potential revenue streams. They also focused on foundational math skills to determine perimeter, percentages and the like.

Students Sofia Rodriguez and Isabella Camero estimated that it would cost $40,000 to build a dog pool in the park. The plan includes a 342-square-foot pool, an area where owners could sit and an 88-square-foot dog store. It would cost $5 to use the pool.

The girls, who are entering sixth grade this fall, said they compromised in developing their idea. “I wanted a dog a park and she wanted a pool,” Sofia said. “So we put them together and made it a dog pool.”

Soon-to-be eighth-graders Saul Abrego, Carlos Merly, Ben Lakis and Alex Zuna would like to see an indoor skate park in Nelson Park. Saul said they proposed the Shangri-La Skate Park because the other skate park in Ossining is outdoors, and it’s too far to travel to the indoor facility in Peekskill.

“We want to make our skate park indoors but close enough where people can actually go and hang out,” he said.

Valeria Vargas, Elvy Tavarez, Devora Grullon and Miguel Valladares think a small store that stocks healthy food and drinks, such as salads and natural juices, would be a good fit for Nelson Park. Valeria, who starts ninth grade in September, said when people play sports at the park, they don’t always have access to healthy food and drink. “It would be good for people’s health,” she said.

Dayanara Criollo, Sunny Aguilar, Alejandra Suma Guzman and Judah Jones think it would be great to install a swimming pool in the park.

“We thought when kids come home from school or anywhere, they get bored and it’s too hot, so they could go to the pool and relax,” said incoming seventh-grader Dayanara, who particularly enjoyed the math involved in the project. “They need a pool they can swim in and spend more time with their family and friends.”

In addition to Ms. Sutton, the other Summer Academy teachers were Natalia Cruz-Santiago, Nicole Tutelian, Lauren Wexler, Lisa Margolis and Andrea Nielsen.