Ricky Rose, 16, designed and led a project to revitalize and repurpose an overgrown space on Grandview’s campus.

In an overgrown and under-utilized part of campus, junior Ricky Rose saw the potential of an outdoor learning and gathering space to benefit Grandview students for years to come. After viewing the site as a potential for the Innovation Program’s Endangered Species Greenhouse, Ricky noticed an opportunity and has been working since June to create an aesthetically-pleasing, comfortable and functional space.

The project is a part of Ricky’s quest to become an Eagle Scout; a designation achieved by only about 7% of Boy Scouts. In order to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, boys must complete a project that serves their community, show leadership and coordination within the project and go through a rigorous planning and presentation process with leaders in the scouting organization.

Ricky has done just that, and with the help of some his peers (and his father), he has transformed a forgotten area at Grandview into a new space for meeting, teaching and collaboration.

Part of the project involved building a planter box to house plants to naturally repel mosquitoes.

The project involved clearing a concrete slab that was a former batting cage. Ricky and his team had to clear the area, remove fake turf, scrape each piece of glue from the concrete, pressure clean and resurface the slab. Ricky then used the slab as the footprint of his project, building and assembling shade structures above and installing plants to help keep away the mosquitos. For seating and workspace, Ricky built three 8-foot picnic tables, each hand-sanded and stained. His attention to detail is evident: Ricky used wood bolts on the underside of the tables so that students would have flat work spaces.

The Outdoor Learning Space will be utilized by classes, club meetings and special events. It was used for the first time during the annual Career Day, serving as an additional location for presenters (and a nice outdoor break for our students).

Riana Frankel, a pediatric occupational therapist, uses the space to present during the school’s annual Career Day.

Ricky will be able to enjoy his project for only another year and a half before he graduates, but he will leave a legacy. Along either side of the space, Ricky has painted class years, beginning with the Class of 2016, where members will sign as they graduate. There is space enough up to the Class of 2042– when Grandview will celebrate its 45th anniversary.