Flint, Michigan – September 8, 2026 — Flint Community Schools will celebrate the completion of a newly renovated playground at Eisenhower Elementary School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 9, at 1:45 p.m.
The new playground is part of Flint Community Schools’ ongoing investment in safe, engaging and welcoming spaces for scholars. The project is supported through a more than $7 million grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to renovate playgrounds across the district.
“It has been so fun to watch Flint kids and families enjoy the new FCS playgrounds,” said Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Mott Foundation. “Flint kids deserve the best, and these innovative spaces help provide that — not only to students in the school buildings, but also to families in the neighborhoods. I’m excited to celebrate the new Eisenhower playground, the fourth of five to be renovated with Mott Foundation support.”
The playgrounds were developed through a codesign process, giving scholars, staff and community members an opportunity to help shape spaces that reflect the needs and interests of each school community. At Eisenhower, scholars brought their own ideas and big imaginations to the process.
One Eisenhower fourth grader shared what they hoped to see on the new playground: “My big ideas for the new playground are to have a zipline, new swings, new monkey bars, a ball pit, a swirly slide, an obstacle course, and last but not least, a trampoline, a rock-climbing wall, and a regular slide with a ladder or stairs.”
The student’s vision highlights the enthusiasm and creativity scholars brought to the codesign process and the importance of giving students a voice in shaping their school environment.
“Engaging parents, students, residents, and educators in the design process created a space where they were the experts on what kids need for their schools and neighborhoods to thrive,” said Ja’Nel Jamerson, President and CEO of the Flint Center for Educational Excellence. “In the community co-design process led by our community school directors, community voices were not just an afterthought; they were the foundation for carefully imagined spaces that are grounded in shared vision and foster a sense of shared ownership.”
“We are excited to celebrate another completed playground and the opportunities it will provide for our scholars,” said Superintendent Kevelin Jones. “These spaces are more than playgrounds, they are places where our scholars can build friendships, stay active, explore and create lasting memories. We are sincerely grateful to the Mott Foundation for its continued investment in Flint Community Schools and our scholars.”
The Eisenhower Elementary ribbon cutting will bring together scholars, staff, families, community partners and district leadership to officially celebrate the completed project.
WHAT: Eisenhower Elementary Playground Ribbon Cutting
WHEN: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 1:45 p.m.
WHERE: Eisenhower Elementary School, 1235 Pershing Street, Flint
Flint Community Schools is committed to creating learning environments that inspire pride, support achievement and provide scholars with spaces where they can learn, grow and thrive.
Press Release PDF link: https://aptg.co/sDhf4T