Left Image: Before Transformation / Right Image: After Transformation

View from Above

Drone photo taken in early July 2020 - large 20,000 gallon underground cistern with remote monitoring system, synthetic and porous turf playfield, bioswale, outdoor classroom, and black locust wood seating.

Construction Begins

Open graded gravel, part of the cistern stormwater storage system, future soccer field.

Outdoor Classroom Construction

Support for existing tree and beginning of an outdoor classroom, supportive of historic neighborhood.

Documenting the Progress

Timelapse camera, one of two installed at each school to document construction for educational purposes.

Existing Conditions

The lower campus currently has 48,500 square feet of impervious surfaces.

Project Lead the Way

Golda Meir features Project Lead the Way.

Urban Island

The campus sits at a city crossroads just north of downtown.

Outdoor Classroom Proposed

An outdoor classroom, greenhouse, and bioswales are proposed.

STEM Strong

Golda’s STEM curriculum and maker space offer robust alignments with the new green features.

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

Golda’s plan calls for removal of approximately 7,800 square feet of asphalt and replacing it with new green space and a mixed-use recreation and educational space. Because of Golda’s successful school garden program, the plan also includes a new greenhouse with a rainwater harvesting system. Additionally, 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. Pending a more detailed survey, a large-scale underground cistern could also be built beneath the planned synthetic turf field (porous pavement) to further manage stormwater. The plan manages approximately 52,732 gallons of stormwater per rain event.

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

A synthetic turf soccer field would absorb water and an outdoor classroom would provide an island of green amid an otherwise impervious landscape at an urban crossroads.

Golda Meir School
1555 N. Doctor M.L.K. Jr. Dr.
Milwaukee, WI 53212

School Snapshot

Grades 3-8
272 students
54.4% economically disadvantaged

Timeline

2018
Conceptual Design

2019
Fundraising

2020
Detailed Design, Permitting, & Construction

2021+
Maintenance & Stewardship

CONTACT INFORMATION

Michelle Carter
Principal
marquere@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

Tina Gleason
STEM/PLTW Teacher
daviss5@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

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

“The redevelopment of the playground will provide the opportunity to strengthen the connections between the lower and upper campus and provide an amazing interactive meeting space for both in and out of school gatherings. Being able to apply real-life concepts and take both environmental and STEM learning to a higher level is very exciting.”

— Tina Gleason, STEM/PLTW Teacher