Carroll School receives grant to beautify grounds

By Stacie N. Galang
Staff writer

May 15, 2008 12:48 am

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PEABODY — How does the Carroll School garden grow? With help from home improvement titan Lowe's.

The school received a $5,000 grant from the company to create gardens near the Northend Street school's two new state-of-the-art play sets, erect a fence, lay down a pathway between areas and enhance the entire space.

"I was very surprised," said parent Wendy Minton, who applied for the funds months ago and heard about the award recently.

Last year, parents, students and teachers rallied together to raise the $125,000 needed to build the play sets at the school, which had been built three years earlier without any outdoor equipment. In August, the group organized a build day that installed both sets.

Minton said the grant from Lowe's lets them update their earlier efforts.

"We can make some changes which we never would have been able to do on build day," she said.

Now, Minton is planning another work day to perform the latest tasks on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. rain or shine. Organizers will have food from Chick-fil-A and Dunkin' Donuts for volunteers.

"We're going to have a fun day cleaning up the school and getting it pretty," she said.

Carroll is one of 1,000 schools or parent organizations to receive Lowe's Toolbox for Education grants this school year. For more information about volunteering, e-mail carrollschoolplayground@hotmail.com.