Transforming a school campus into a safe, connected, and engaging environment
Mt. Royal Elementary/Middle School, a Title I public school serving Pre-K through 8th grade in Baltimore, MD anchors a dense neighborhood where many students lack safe outdoor space or opportunities for hands-on learning. The campus functions as both a playground for families and a pedestrian corridor for nearby MICA students. Before this project, students navigated unmarked parking areas to move between buildings, creating safety risks and lost opportunities for outdoor exploration and recreation.
Project Overview
A grant-funded, community-built effort to transform a fragmented urban schoolyard into a safe, connected, and engaging campus that blends outdoor learning, art, and environmental stewardship.
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As PTO President, I led a series of campus-wide improvements that evolved from a single garden concept into a connected network of outdoor learning and play spaces. Enhancements included a new pedestrian pathway, reconfigured parking and drop-off zones, picnic areas, and extensive tree plantings.
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The garden was fully grant-funded, built by parent volunteers, and coordinated with BCPSS Green School partners. Students co-designed and painted the garden fence through afterschool programs led by Ladew Gardens and Art with a Heart, creating ownership and pride in the space.
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Working with City Councilmembers, Baltimore City DOT, and MICA’s Center for Social Design, I helped implement safer crossings and informed the “Made You Look” toolkit — now managed by the Neighborhood Design Center as a model for equitable, community-driven design.
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Mt. Royal’s campus was transformed into an engaging and connected learning environment. Students gained safe pathways and outdoor classrooms, while families and neighbors gained a welcoming shared public space that encourages play, learning, and community pride.
