OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The City of Oshkosh is looking to enhance its public schools’ curb appeal, but it says it needs community help.
As the parent of an Oshkosh West High School student, Anna Ulman tells WLUK she has noticed the school’s exterior needs a little TLC.
“There’s a lot of nice things there, but I could see that it definitely needs an upgrade, a woman’s touch!”
The city’s education commission, Oshkosh4Education has heard the same thing about other schools from focus groups.
Chairperson Beth Wyman tells WLUK the commission has decided to do something about it.
“We had people say they aren’t really happy about the exterior of our schools, they aren’t inviting and they aren’t neighborhood friendly”
Thursday kicked off the “Project Curb” campaign.
The big day will be September 23rd, when landscaping will be done at all district schools.
“We will be beautifying the exteriors of our 17 school sites in the community of Oshkosh,” said Wyman.
Volunteers will remove dead trees, improve existing planters and beds, and add new plants.
“Plants that will look good, be inviting, but not have too much maintenance”
Wyman says Oshkosh4Education estimates it will need 1,000 volunteers on hand the day of and $200,000 in donations to get the job done.
“That will also include in-kind donations. We’re going to our landscapers, we’re going to our tree trimmers”
Ulman says as part of the community, she feels responsible.
“If we don’t take care of it and show our kids how to take care of it, who’s gonna take care of it ?”
School district officials say they’re excited for the project.
