Schools
Renovated Husky Gardens Unveiled At Washington High School
Students, teachers and community volunteers pitched-in. The Home Depot provided a $10,000 grant, professional guidance and a work crew.
FREMONT, CA — Washington High School’s Husky Gardens has been beautifully renovated through the efforts of students, teachers, community volunteers, programs and industry partners.
Instrumental in the success of the renovation is The Home Depot which, among other things, awarded a $10,000 grant to purchase supplies to complete the project. The Home Depot also supported the overall design and provided a crew from the Fremont and Newark stores that helped deliver and install materials, improve and beautify the garden, and haul away waste.
The goal of the renovation was to make the gardens a place for instruction, relaxation, and growth after the pandemic had left it untended and overgrown.
Dr. Lisa-Marie Burns, a WHS teacher, approached The Home Depot for help. “I was watching TV over winter break and saw the new Home Depot commercial promoting their new 'Path to Pro' campaign - and as a CTE (Career and Technical Education) person it resonated with me,” said Burns. “I wanted to spin off it for a FUSD (Fremont Unified School District) project and thought what the heck? I'll email their corporate offices and see if anyone responds.”
The Home Depot connected Burns to its Bay Area leadership. Lucretia Heath, a Regional Pro Account Sales Manager for The Home Depot, visited the site in early 2024 to meet with Burns and other WHS educators to explore the potential of the space and how The Home Depot could help the school reach its goals.
Heath helped Burns with initial planning and applying for the grant to purchase supplies from The Home Depot to complete the project.
The renovation honored the years of effort that had already gone into the gardens including plants and aesthetic features. The school’s MultiMedia Art Academy (MMAA) alumni started a ‘living mural’ in 2022 that will continue to grow with the garden. Ceramics teacher Jake Rodenkirk and his students provided a Husky solar fountain for the garden, plus ollas that slowly release water to the plants, which supplement a drip irrigation system. Boy Scouts had constructed planter boxes and benches.
A beautiful redwood sign now hangs outside the entrance. It was designing and built by Centerville Middle School's Steve Olson. Swagelok Northern California provided funding for the sign and other garden tools.
The completed gardens were celebrated on August 13 with a ribbon cutting ceremony presided over by Principal Bob Moran. Fremont Unified School District Superintendent Erik Burmeister attended, along with school staff, student leadership and community partners who made the transformation of the garden possible. Moran proclaimed,“Husky Gardens is officially open!”
Burns, who took the bold step to contact The Home Depot, will coordinate upkeep of the gardens by students and colleagues through a Garden Committee.
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