James John School, partners add more nature to the playground

By Barbara Quinn

There was a time when the playground at James John Elementary school in the heart of St. Johns town center was a bleak expanse of hot blacktop surrounded by nondescript chainlink fence.

Happily that is no more. Improvements such as decorative fencing and planted areas created by the nonprofit Depave have been added over the years through grants and donations starting when Mike Verbout was principal 

In 2019 a mini soccer field was donated and adjacent areas were depaved and planted with trees. Depave adopted the site permanently. 

When they noticed that trees planted near the soccer field were not thriving, Liz Robertson, Depave Site Stewardship Coordinator said their investigation found the trees had been planted in river rock — yards of it. 

With a grant from Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) DePave had the rock removed with heavy equipment. It was replaced with compost, sand and cow manure. When it came time for the finishing touch, adding compost to the top layer, partners James John School, Depave, James John PTA, James John Green Team and parent and community volunteers all came together on the school’s Care Day, Saturday August 22, to help spread compost on all the planted areas. On Dec. 5 Friends of Trees will host an event to plant new trees in the improved areas.

Principal Martin Castillo was there overseeing the activity. Castillo had been a teacher at James John previously and then an assistant principal. He has been the principal for three years. New PTA co-president, Sam Ellingson took a break from the work to say, “This space means a lot to the community,” noting that kids and families come to play on the soccer field and climb the apparatus in summer and when school isn’t in session. 

Cambria Olson, parent leader of the James John Green Team, a group whose mission is to manage the garden and beautify the campus, along with her daughter Rose, a 9-year-old, were watering the children’s garden nearby. It has expanded to include more raised beds. Cambria said, “It’s great for children to play in natural surroundings and make toys in nature. We’ve asked DePave to add more tree beds on this side of the playground and expand the open area under the large fir tree. It’s great for children to experience nature especially if they live in apartments or condos.” 

All the classes get garden time at least once a month where they learn about things like the value of worms. When asked what she likes best about the garden, fourth-grader Rose exclaimed, “I love finding worms!”