"Color Pop Garden" Mural Brings Joy to Local Community
Local students made their mark on their schoolyard this year, transforming it from a drab tan wasteland to a bright spot of cheer in the middle of Manhattan. The Upper East Side community watched with joyful anticipation as the Color Pop Garden mural took shape over the course of four fun work weeks. While teachers and parent volunteers like me sketched the design, directed traffic, and smoothed out the edges, the color-by-number mural was painted by nearly one thousand elementary school students. The result? In bringing the project outside the classroom, these kids gained a sense of ownership over the playground that is their favorite neighborhood hangout. Plus, chuckle-worthy memories flood my mind and a smile spreads across my face whenever I pass by the park and glimpse a stretch of our creation. Lessons Learned As classes came out to work on the mural, kids practiced life skills such as patience as they waited for their turn to paint, following directions as the art teacher assi...
