At KIPP VOICE Academy in Jacksonville’s Brentwood neighborhood, students recently got their hands dirty helping to install a new bioswale and pollinator garden—part of a broader greening schoolyards effort taking root across the city. This project marks a major step forward in transforming the schoolyard into a living, learning landscape that enriches students’ daily experience with hands-on nature access.

The bioswale and planting installation were made possible through external grant funding secured by Groundwork Jacksonville. Project One Health JAX supported the effort by activating the space through student engagement and youth programming, ensuring that the new features become integrated into learning and play.

On October 14, Nature Rangers from KIPP VOICE Academy—a Groundwork Jacksonville after-school club funded by Project One Health—joined Groundwork’s horticulture team, school staff, and community volunteers to help plant more than 430 native grasses and pollinator plants, along with 27 new trees across campus.

A bioswale is a green infrastructure feature that captures stormwater runoff, slows it down, and allows it to filter back into the soil. Designed to prevent flooding and reduce pollutants entering local waterways, bioswales also serve as dynamic teaching tools and biodiversity hotspots. This one, located in the front of the school, features native species like blueberry, milkweed, blazing star, and lantana to attract pollinators like butterflies and bees. A mix of oak, pine, magnolia, and hickory trees were planted to help expand the tree canopy and provide shade over time.

“This is so much more than a garden. It’s an investment in our children and our community,” said Joni Alexandre, Community Engagement Coordinator with Groundwork Jacksonville. “Every week, I get to see the wonder on our students’ faces as they explore nature. Projects like this help them build a sense of ownership and pride in their environment. They’re learning that nature is part of their daily life, and they have an important role in caring for it.”

The installation included not only the bioswale and garden beds but also infrastructure to support ongoing outdoor learning. New pergolas were installed to create shaded spaces where teachers can host lessons, students can reflect and write in journals, and after-school programs can gather. As the plants take root and grow, the space will evolve into a welcoming and vibrant outdoor hub for learning, play, and connection.

Groundwork Jacksonville will provide ongoing support through plant signage, trail maintenance, and continued engagement with students through the Nature Rangers program, which meets twice a week to explore ecology, environmental stewardship, and wellness. Future additions may include a nature-based obstacle course and signage highlighting pollinator species, water flow, and the impact of native plants.

This effort aligns with Project One Health JAX’s mission to reconnect youth with nature and reduce excessive screen time by creating green spaces where learning and well-being can thrive. By making nature a part of students’ everyday school experience, the initiative is helping shape a healthier, more resilient generation—starting right here in Brentwood.