Milwaukee Public Schools Turn Grey Spaces Into Green Spaces
Dontae Luttrell (L) and one of his peers. (Picture by Lily Shea Photography)
18-year-old Dontae Luttrell spent the summer interning for Reflo – a nonprofit focused on creating sustainable water use and green infrastructure in urban areas – to revamp his school North Division High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“I come from the hood and if it’s on your mind [to do better] and if you want to do it, you can do it,” Luttrell said.
Luttrell, Reflo, Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation and other partners, have turned North Division’s gray concrete into a functional green space.
He’s been a part of the planning process and even helped with some of the renovations.
“It feels good because I want to be looked up to,” he said.
North Division’s revamp is a part MPS Foundation and MPS’ multi-million dollar investment to turn MPS schoolyards into something the community can be proud of, especially the students. The high school received a rain garden, new pavement to help with water flow, a new surface for the track, two outside classrooms that includes an amphitheater with seats, a mural on the front of the school, new bleachers, new picnic tables and more.
North Division High School ribbon cutting was held on Oct. 13, 2021. (Picture by Lily Shea Photography)
Altogether five schools have received new green space: Academy of Accelerated Learning, Allen-Field Elementary, Bay View Montessori Upper Campus, La Escuela Fratney, and North Division High School.
Over the years, dozens of schools have received green spaces including Eight-First Street School, Brown Street Academy and Burdick School.
Several Wisconsin businesses are involved in these renovations, including Kara Koch of Stormwater Solutions Engineering who is the engineering design consultant and contractor Eduardo Munoz of Eaton Corporation.
For Luttrell, transformations that like one North Division received is what MPS students deserve and need.
To find out more about the green yards, click here.