03/04/2020
Dear supporters of the Colerain Wellness path,
We finally have great news to share!
Last night at the Columbus City Schools Board of Education meeting, legislation was approved to accept the donation from the Colerain PTA and to approve the construction contract. Construction is slated to start in the spring.
While it may not be the path we originally dreamt up five years ago while sitting in the principal’s office, it is a path that meets the original mission: to get kids outside, especially those with mobility impairments, as independently and as safely as possible.
In the past five years, we’ve procured estimates, written grant proposals, met with engineers, met with the City of Columbus, met with Columbus City Schools, met with construction specialists, met with stormwater specialists, emailed, called, asked questions, pleaded for favors, brainstormed, fundraised, followed every lead and went down every rabbit hole in an attempt to create the path. Our efforts lead to the conclusion that the project as it was originally envisioned could not be done with the amount of money raised.
The money we raised was a massive effort, one that we are so proud of and immensely grateful to our community for supporting, but it’s simply not enough. What we didn’t foresee is that the project would require a stormwater management plan, which would add a significant expense and drastically change the use of green space. So we reimagined a new project with the same mission.
A focus group of special education teachers and community members came together and were asked to come up with ideas that met the project mission, wouldn't trigger the threshold for stormwater management, would stay within budget, and would be a meaningful addition to the school grounds.
The group came up with an idea we are very excited about: a scaled-down version that connects to an existing path, creating a loop that will go under mature trees and include a bridge over an existing drainage swell. The shortened distance is long enough to be fun for kids on bikes or scooters and for adults on foot, but even more important, it’s short enough to make the journey around the loop possible for students with mobility impairments while also helping them build endurance. The use of this reimagined path during recess will also be a more practical, safer option, as staff will be better able to monitor the students.
A huge thank you to all the people who have donated money, time, and energy, and who have encouraged and supported this project. Words cannot express how grateful we are to the Colerain school community and its neighbors. The project’s success is a testament to the passion of this community and to the power of numerous small efforts. Its success is only possible through every small gesture and every penny.
We are so happy to bring this project to our school community and our neighbors. We look forward to seeing you out there, whether you walk, run, scoot, shuffle, or roll.
Stay tuned for more updates!
