Originally posted at the Mt. Scott Learning Centers website.
A forecast of rain and thunder failed to dampen the spirits of 40 energetic volunteers at Mt. Scott High School’s outdoor recreation project on Saturday, March 21.
The result was an “Extreme Makeover” transformation of an unsightly gravel parking lot into neatly landscaped areas for planting this spring. Volunteers dug, axed, scooped, scraped, hoed and raked for six hours to prepare landscape beds, improve and add to existing walking paths, and enhance an existing bike shelter.
Local residents and representatives from Depave, City Repair Project, Hands On Greater Portland, Northwest Service Academy, and On-The-Move Community Integration joined forces for the successful “work party” event, which benefitted 
from sunny skies and comfortable temperatures for much of the day. City Repair Project’s T-Horse (a mobile tea house) was on hand to provide free hot tea and homemade chai, and Grand Central Baking Company generously donated an assortment of pastries and bread. A donation from Groundwork Portland funded a pizza lunch for the volunteers.
Mt. Scott’s outdoor recreation project was elected an official work site for Hands on Greater Portland’s annual Cares Day event on Saturday, April 25. Volunteers interested in completing the project’s landscaping areas, as well as painting and cleaning areas of the school, can register at the Hands on Greater Portland website.
The goal of outdoor recreation space project is to create a more inviting feel to the school, teach students skills in landscape design, and allow for future outdoor education and recreation opportunties for the school and surrounding community.
An additional photo gallery of the event, created by professional photographer Shawn Linehan, is available at http://shawnlinehan.com/depave1/
