Left Image: Before Transformation / Right Image: After Transformation

Construction begins

Drone photo taken in early July 2020 - “island” bioswale and outdoor classroom area, larger bioswale in the northeast (upper left of the photo) and expanded green space for recreation.

Nature play

Black locust (naturally rot resistant and considered invasive) creative play feature.

Managing stormwater where it falls

Large northeast bioswale with erosion control before final plantings.

Exploration pathways

Bioswale with walking path for student discovery and maintenance.

Schoolyard in 2019

Despite proximity to Tippecanoe Park, Clement Avenue Schools schoolyard is mainly asphalt.

Rainwater harvesting

An outdoor classroom would be outfitted with a rainwater harvesting pavilion.

Curricular alignments

Teachers are excited about integrating the outdoor classroom across multiple grade levels.

Running lanes

Painted running lanes would circumnavigate the new outdoor classroom cut into the asphalt.

Garden integration

Clement has maintained several raised-bed gardens for the past half-decade.

Over $1.3 million has been raised to support green schoolyard redesign for this and four other schools in 2020.

The plan calls for removal of approximately 22,000 square feet of asphalt and replacing it with new green space and a mixed-use recreation and educational space. Because of Clement’s successful school garden program, the plan also includes a new outdoor classroom with a rainwater harvesting system. The inclusion of native plantings and stormwater trees allow for unique spaces on the schoolyard that can represent native Wisconsin ecosystems, complete with student-created signage. The plan manages over 88,000 gallons of stormwater per rain event.

The Plan

Review the school’s conceptual plan in greater detail, including designs, cost estimates, curricular connections, and maintenance considerations.

Green Team Documents & Resources

Meeting Minutes

Project Folder

Vision in a Nutshell

The middle of the asphalt playground will be carved out for an outdoor classroom with rainwater harvesting pavilion and raised-bed gardens. Existing green space would be repurposed as a soccer field and green infrastructure installed to manage stormwater.

Clement Avenue School
3666 S. Clement Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207

School Snapshot

K4 - 8th Grades
420 Students
69.3% Reduced Lunch

Timeline

2018
Conceptual Design

2019
Fundraising

2020
Detailed Design, Permitting, & Construction

2021+
Maintenance & Stewardship

Contact Information

Shannon Kilsdonk
Principal, Clement Avenue School
kilsdose@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

Andrea Mierzwinski
K4 Teacher, Clement Avenue School
haugaa@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

Justin Hegarty
Executive Director, Reflo - Sustainable Water Solutions
justin.hegarty@refloh2o.com

“I think it’s fantastic that this very unique green space is being created at Clement Avenue School. This will transform the traditional playground environment to one that gives the children and teachers a beautiful setting to exercise their brains as well as their bodies.”

— Jon Greenberg, president of Milwaukee Admirals Hockey Club