The former playground area was transformed to serve the parish and school
By Jeff Kurowski | On Mission
MACKVILLE — A space that was once home to the St. Edward School playground now offers endless possibilities for prayer and learning.
Supported financially through the one by One Campaign of the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Green Bay, the outdoor area located behind the school was transformed by Lowney’s Landscaping Center Inc. of Mackville.
The space features a combination of brick pavers and stamped concrete, a corner fireplace, pergola, gas torches, a granite island and more.
“It started with wanting to have a space for young adults,” said Pat Coonen, a lifelong parishioner and current member of the finance council. “The young adults had a Bible study with a little campfire with a portable fire pit.”
“(The young adults) would gather in the evening in the parking lot,” said Fr. Robert Chinnapan, a Missionaries of Faith priest who serves as administrator at St. Edward the Confessor Parish, Mackville, and St. Nicholas Parish, Freedom. “What if we have a nice space for the young adults because we want them to be the church? It became a multipurpose space so everyone can use it.”
“Anybody who wants to use it for furthering the faith or a celebration, can connect with the parish,” said Deacon Jeff Hofacker. “It’s beautiful. We were able to follow (the project) step by step. When I was a kid here at school, there were swing sets here.”
A new playground was built previously west of the school.
“We were right in the middle of the parking lot, so it was a little scary,” said Rene Cowart, St. Edward School principal, about the former playground space.
“The teachers are excited to get out here,” she said. “They will be putting in a white board. The map (of the United States painted on the pavement on the west end of the space) was kept so the fourth and fifth graders can use that to learn their states. I can also see the kids sitting in a circle doing the rosary out here. We can use it as a staff, too, for an after-school cookout or staff meeting.”
Joe Lowney, owner of Lowney’s Landscaping Center Inc., said the first step for the company was to present concepts and preliminary designs for the outdoor space and playground to the parish.
He credits Christina Kosiorek, professional landscape architect, for many of the “cool ideas.” For example, Kosiorek developed the design of block pavers forming a shadow effect of the black cross from the fireplace.
“Christine drew it and said, ‘Somebody has to make the cross (on the fireplace),’” said Lowney, who is a member of St. Nicholas Parish.
Pat Coonen’s husband, Don,, took on the task.
“It’s layers and layers of steel,” he said about the cross. “I do metal sculptures. There are 40-plus hours into it. I would be out there working on it for six hours at a time.”
Construction began in June. Fr. Chinnapan blessed the outdoor space on Aug. 30 following the school Mass.
Lowney attended the blessing and pointed out some of the outdoor space’s features. He explained that the gas torches have timers, so when people walk away, they turn off. Path lights were placed in the retaining wall that separates the space from the parking lot. Lowney also pointed to the power outlets in the pergola posts and the island.
The space is equipped for a fire table to be added in the future, he said.
“We are proud of this project,” said Lowney. “To see the smiles on Father’s face and the kids, that’s worth every bit of it. Hopefully, we will get to do more outdoor spaces for churches and schools.”
Aaron Vosters, general manager at Lowney’s, said the project was even more special because he is a St. Edward School parent and has family history with the parish..
“We grew up going to church here. To help implement the ideas behind it and to be picked to build it, was great,” he said. “The path lights at dusk really pop. It’s the little things that make this such a neat space. Where it goes from here and who takes advantage of it will be fun to watch.”
