Thank You For Your Feedback on Fernway Outdoor Space
We thank the many Shaker Heights and Fernway community members who participated in the Fernway playground and outdoor space data-gathering activities.
As the Fernway School planning progressed and community feedback was received at Board meetings and other meetings, it was clear that the community saw an opportunity to enhance the outdoor space surrounding the school area. Additional committees and groups were formed to specifically discuss and research outdoor options. These included:
Group meetings of city staff, District staff, current and past Fernway families and teachers
Surveys of Fernway 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders
Public community meetings (brainstorming and visioning sessions) -- 60 people participated at one of the two meetings
Fernway playground survey (distributed throughout the city and the District) -- 176 people completed the online survey
The input from the survey and community meetings will lay the foundation for the playground visioning. The feedback showed themes that will be addressed in the design and include a park that would have both traditional climbing/play structures and nature play features, as well as seating/table areas and fitness options.
Survey responses showed that the Fernway outdoor space is a highly utilized area:
75% of the respondents visit the Fernway Elementary playground/outdoor area at least weekly with 44% visiting almost daily.
When asked why they went to Fernway, 66% of people gathered with friends or neighbors; 57% brought school age children to play; and 62% brought preschool children.
Nature play is important to 53% of the respondents
The top three redesign priorities for the outdoor space (assuming safety is of the utmost importance):
64% said new play structures that include climbing, swinging and recreation
62% said an improved green space
52% shared that areas for people to gather, meet and picnic were important
All of this valuable input will be considered when the Fernway outdoor playground and recreation space is designed.
Noah Rusnak Donates Money Raised for Bar Mitzvah
Construction crews have broken ground on Fernway and on Tuesday, Shaker Heights Middle School student Noah Rusnak shared his $5,000 donation---collected at his Bar Mitzvah this spring---with the Shaker Schools Foundation to help build a new playground at his former elementary school. WKYC Channel 3 also featured Noah!
Click here to view their segment.
Raffle Winners Treated to Hard Hat Tour of Fernway
Winners in the raffle drawing for a hard hat tour of Fernway got an inside look at the school on Tuesday, led by Chris Dewey of Van Aukin Akins Architects and Fernway Principal Christopher Hayward. Attendees of the Shaker Schools Foundation's Fernway Forward FUNdraiser on May 4 at Juma Gallery were entered into the drawing to win the hard hat tour opportunity.
Stay Up-to-Date on Fernway
Stay up-to-date on plans and progress on rebuilding Fernway online at shaker.org. Visit the special
Fernway Update section to learn more about:
