CSX Brings Play to a Chicago School Playground

CSX kicked off its Chicago City Year Service Day with a very special ribbon-cutting that presented a brand new state-of-the art playground set to George Patton Elementary School in Riverdale, Chicago.

CSX presented a brand new state-of-the-art playground set to George Patton Elementary School.

Built in 1962, the school is located near the CSX railroad tracks and serves 380 students pre-K through 8th grade and is the only school in the district. Prior to CSX's involvement, its large, fenced playground stood empty of any equipment aside from two basketball goals with no court.

More than 200 volunteers from local CSX rail yards, the school and a local church organization showed up for the CSX-sponsored Service Day, which included:

• Painting murals inside and outside of the school
• Planting trees and building garden beds throughout the school campus
• Building picnic tables and benches

At the end of the day, the entire playground was alive with colorful murals and games such as hopscotch and a newly painted basketball court complete with the school's team logo. The teacher's court and front yard was cleared of weeds and brush and sported brand new picnic tables. And both fun and inspirational murals lined the school halls and cafeteria walls.

Sharon Baskerville, principal of the Patton School, welcomed the project. "Thank you CSX and City Year for selecting our school for this year's service project and for showing Patton students the importance of being of service to others. Neal Postman reminds us that children are the living message we send to a time we will not see. This Day of Service is a gift and a message that will never be forgotten."