At the intersection of McKinley Ave and 87th St., 4000 square feet of City land lay asphalted and unused near Wisdom Academy for Young Scientists (WAYS) Charter School. Realizing that the area needed to be beautified, Wisdom Academy applied and was awarded a Community Beautification Grant in 2009 to make their vision a reality...transforming an unused plot of land into a walking trail and sitting area to serve as an outdoor classroom and a gathering place for the local community.
WAYS held a great groundbreaking event for their project, "WAYS Reading and Fitness Park," on March 30, 2011. In attendance were Kendra Okonkwo, Founder of WAYS, Alake Watson, Principal at WAYS, Councilwoman Jan Perry, Heal the Bay organizers, WAYS students and parents, and numerous stakeholders. Excited to be part of this transformation, WAYS students worked on the installation of murals along the walking trail.
The grant funds was used to leverage a $1.3 million state grant to Heal the Bay for the creation of a mini-park at the site. As pictured on the left, landscape architect, Steve Cancian, designed an innovative landscaping plan that incorporated Wisdom Academy's Reading & Fitness Park. Once completed, this will be a place for the local community to come out and enjoy.
The grant funds was used to leverage a $1.3 million state grant to Heal the Bay for the creation of a mini-park at the site. As pictured on the left, landscape architect, Steve Cancian, designed an innovative landscaping plan that incorporated Wisdom Academy's Reading & Fitness Park. Once completed, this will be a place for the local community to come out and enjoy. 
