Kealing School Park wins big

The Kealing School Park improvement project will get a $20,000 boost from the “Meet Me at the Park” campaign, the city announced last week. Kealing is just one of 16 projects across the country chosen to receive the grants, which are sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association and the Walt Disney Company. In celebration of Earth Month in April, the group asked the public to weigh in on which revitalization proposals should get a jump-start. The Kealing project will take stormwater currently running toward a playground and, according to a Friday press release, “steer it into a pollinator meadow to encourage infiltration and provide a nearby nature play opportunity.” The play area will also be expanded to include an outdoor classroom and amphitheater. Acting Parks and Recreation Director Kimberly McNeeley noted the positive effects parks have on children and adults. “Providing people of all ages, and in all areas of the city, nature-based programs and a hands-on chance to explore nature, encourages appreciation and environmental stewardship – both of which are imperative to the future of our green spaces,” she said. Houston is the other Texas city to secure one of the grants.