Park Township’s renewed community center needs to be a multigenerational resource that serves the community for decades to come. In considering what qualities and amenities to include, the visioning committee decided early on that engaging the youngest members of the community would be a critical part of the process.
Since kickoff, Park Township has worked closely with teachers and administrators to create several student-focused outreach programs. Some highlights from that outreach work includes:
- Fourth grade students from Lakewood Elementary recently completed a project-based-learning exercise on the elements of an inclusive community center. Their teacher Amy VanAllsburg and several students presented their work at the March 12 Open House.
- Members of the visioning committee visited student senates/councils at West Ottawa High School, Harbor Lights Middle School and Macatawa Bay Middle School to gather ideas and attributes for the community center.
- Park Township worked with Holland Christian’s Rose Park Elementary to engage dozens of students of all ages in preparing design-thinking activities. Several students came and presented the school’s design-thinking boards at the Open House as well.
- The visioning committee also coordinated with Black River Public School to facilitate curriculum-aligned workshops with 7th grade English classes and upper elementary students, which yielded hundreds of ideas.
- Finally, Park Township equipped administration from all three districts: Black River, Holland Christian, and West Ottawa with language and links to the Community Survey, which the schools could send through their communications with parents.
All together, the Township directly engaged and gathered input from over 300 students and indirectly gathered feedback from many more. Photos and ideas from those outreach events are included below:
