Mesa Oasis
This year’s Fun Run is devoted to raising funds to complete the Mesa Oasis
The Mesa Oasis project is a reimagining and re-designing of the unused garden space in the front of the school. After receiving feedback from teachers, parents, and Mesa staff, the PTO has proposed a new design to better utilize this shared community space. The project is supported by CU environmental design students and the City of Boulder. It also aligns with the BVSD’s 2026 initiative to “have green schoolyards and outdoor learning space.” The space involves eight round tables with seating up to 64 and will be used at lunchtime for outdoor eating, as an outdoor classroom, and as a multi-purpose, shared community space. Mesa Oasis will be a multi-phase project and is funded by the PTO. Phases 1 and 2 of the new Mesa Oasis project were paid for by fundraising efforts from previous years that could not be rolled over to this year’s budget per PTO bylaws. Mesa Oasis Phases 1 and 2 were voted on and approved at the May 2023 PTO meeting. Click here to read an outline of Mesa Oasis details, money spent to date and what has been voted on and approved. |
- Phase 1 - Hardscaping: concrete is scheduled to start mid-September. This phase was voted on and approved at the May 5, 2023 PTO meeting.
- Phase 2 - Tables: eight outdoor round tables will be installed providing seating for 64 children. This phase was voted on and approved at the September 1, 2023 PTO meeting.
- Phase 3 - Groundcover - funds raised from the 2024 Fun Run will go towards completing the Oasis with sustainable groundcover.
Mesa Oasis Vision and Story
The “Mesa Oasis” is an approximately 100’ x 50’ flat area on the northeast side of Mesa Elementary School adjacent to the cafeteria. During COVID, Mr. Andy, our beloved custodian, started dragging the lunch tables outside every day so that the students could safely remove their masks and eat lunch. It was a brilliant move. The students stayed healthy, and the extra dose of fresh air and sunshine noticeably lifted their moods. When COVID protocols ended, the students were very vocal about their desire to continue eating lunch outside. This prompted the Mesa PTO to reimagine the then-fallow plot of land as a permanent multi-purpose outdoor space. The pictures show the condition of the dirt (often muddy) “lawn” before breaking ground on the Mesa Oasis project. Before we broke ground on the Mesa Oasis project in November of 2023, PTO members met with a brilliant assortment of community members with expertise in City Planning, Sustainability and Energy, Environmental Design, Science Education, and Community Art Installation. Everyone wholeheartedly supported the idea and contributed their time to developing a vision that would incorporate space for the students to eat, learn, create, play, imagine, and feel safe and welcome. |
Teachers, students, and caregivers were then invited to offer feedback and contribute their ideas to the project. The response was overwhelmingly positive and supportive. Teachers were excited about the innovative teaching opportunities that a multi-purpose space like the Oasis would afford them. Students were enthusiastic about the possibility of learning in an environment that encourages them to feel more embodied, curious, and engaged. Parents appreciated the positive physical and mental health benefits of spending more time in nature and were happy to imagine a more comfortable place to gather during drop-off and pick-up.
Ultimately, a design was chosen that aligns with BVSD’s 2026 initiative to create “green schoolyards and outdoor learning spaces.” The vision incorporates the dispersed placement of eight round tables to provide ample seating for eating, learning, and community gatherings. Sustainable ground cover was chosen with minimal cost and maintenance in mind. Tree stumps, logs, and rocks will be grouped throughout the space to stimulate the senses and the imagination and provide natural seating and boundaries. The pergola will be enhanced to include enough seating for an individual class to enjoy a group lesson outside.
To complete the vision and create a true “Oasis vibe” we plan to decorate the space with vibrant, playful art and conscious messaging designed to evoke the Mesa community values: Respect, Responsibility, Safety, and Kindness. We have applied for and hope to receive a grant from the Boulder Arts Commission to hire Streetwise to paint a mural on the brick outer wall of the cafeteria. In addition, our wonderful art teacher, Taylor Bale, plans to help students beautify the grounds with painted rocks, birdhouses, and sculptures.
The price tag to complete this venture is $25,000, so we need everyone’s participation to make it a reality. To that end, your student is invited to set a running goal for the Fun Run and then ask family, friends, and neighbors to pledge their support. Every student who earns $50 in support will be in a drawing for free ice cream at Sweet Cow. Every family who contributes $200 will be invited to personalize a plaque in the Oasis. In recognition of a $1000 donation, five families, groups of families, or businesses will have an opportunity to adopt and personalize one of five large boulders that will be placed in the Oasis, and in recognition of a $2000 donation, you will will have an opportunity to adopt and personalize a section of the customized bench that will be constructed around the border of the pergola.
Thank you for encouraging your student to reach their running goal, develop a sense of ownership over their education, and invest in their community. Our collective efforts are the magic that will transform a fallow patch of earth into an enchanting space that invites community members to gather, enjoy the beauty of nature and art, and feel a sense of belonging, wonder, and peace. Together we will create a true Oasis in southwest Boulder!
Ultimately, a design was chosen that aligns with BVSD’s 2026 initiative to create “green schoolyards and outdoor learning spaces.” The vision incorporates the dispersed placement of eight round tables to provide ample seating for eating, learning, and community gatherings. Sustainable ground cover was chosen with minimal cost and maintenance in mind. Tree stumps, logs, and rocks will be grouped throughout the space to stimulate the senses and the imagination and provide natural seating and boundaries. The pergola will be enhanced to include enough seating for an individual class to enjoy a group lesson outside.
To complete the vision and create a true “Oasis vibe” we plan to decorate the space with vibrant, playful art and conscious messaging designed to evoke the Mesa community values: Respect, Responsibility, Safety, and Kindness. We have applied for and hope to receive a grant from the Boulder Arts Commission to hire Streetwise to paint a mural on the brick outer wall of the cafeteria. In addition, our wonderful art teacher, Taylor Bale, plans to help students beautify the grounds with painted rocks, birdhouses, and sculptures.
The price tag to complete this venture is $25,000, so we need everyone’s participation to make it a reality. To that end, your student is invited to set a running goal for the Fun Run and then ask family, friends, and neighbors to pledge their support. Every student who earns $50 in support will be in a drawing for free ice cream at Sweet Cow. Every family who contributes $200 will be invited to personalize a plaque in the Oasis. In recognition of a $1000 donation, five families, groups of families, or businesses will have an opportunity to adopt and personalize one of five large boulders that will be placed in the Oasis, and in recognition of a $2000 donation, you will will have an opportunity to adopt and personalize a section of the customized bench that will be constructed around the border of the pergola.
Thank you for encouraging your student to reach their running goal, develop a sense of ownership over their education, and invest in their community. Our collective efforts are the magic that will transform a fallow patch of earth into an enchanting space that invites community members to gather, enjoy the beauty of nature and art, and feel a sense of belonging, wonder, and peace. Together we will create a true Oasis in southwest Boulder!