Upper Makefield Township

Members of the Upper Makefield Township Park and Recreation Board, along with members of the Township staff, recently took a special trip to Sol Feinstone Elementary School to visit Nancy Stoudt’s third-grade Humanities class to judge the class’s “Design a Park” contest.   Each student presented a design for a new community park to the special panel of judges, and after serious review, the following third-graders were recognized:

• 1st place: Katherine McQuarrie
• 2nd place: Lara Davies
• 3rd place (tie): Casey Rogerson and Olivia Pinto

After a year-long social studies class focusing on "communities," the children were directed by their teacher to determine the reasons Upper Makefield needs a park.  Stoudt challenged her students to identify a problem like the need for a community park and to create a solution that would meet the needs of all citizens.

The students developed an array of ideas ranging from health and exercise themed parks, to peaceful and meditation themes, to highly landscaped design themes. Additionally, the third-graders sought out to please specific age groups and demographics. The students developed ideas for a tot park, elementary school-age kids, teenagers, adults, grandparents and handicapped people.

Winners of the contest, along with their families, were then invited to be publicly recognized at a Board of Supervisors meeting in June.  Chairman Baldwin presented certificates to each of the students and invited them to comment on their designs.

First place winner McQuarrie, who named her park “Fun Mania,” explained to the elected officials what made her park so special, “We have a community garden that anyone can plant in for free. You just have to bring your own seeds.”