Public Service Park’s Journey of a Drop of Water: Winner of NACWA’s (National Association for Clean Water Agencies) 2005 National Environmental Achievement Award.
As part of the recent expansion of its headquarter’s facilities, the District incorporated an outdoor environmental education center into the site design. Public Service Park is an outdoor, interactive, environmental learning center that brings education, wonder and amazement to the banks of Banklick Creek. This one-of-a-kind, innovative facility features a vegetated roof, wetland classroom, storm water garden, watershed plaza, oil/water separator, porous pavements, technology lab, urban forest, and a Native American creek walk.
The structured field trip at Public Service Park is designed to empower and educate the school children about the vital importance of protecting our waterways for future generations. The students embark upon a journey of a drop of water. They carry backpacks and a field notebook that guides them through a series of educational activities that include:
- Comparing a vegetated roof to a regular roof
- Discovering the difference between porous and regular pavement
- Researching water quality data of Banklick Creek via USGS website
- Defining a watershed by using an interactive watershed model
- Discovering which surfaces decrease and increase the rate of storm water runoff through an interactive race
- Performing water testing in a wetland ecosystem
- Learning the dangers of detention basins
- Discovering how oil/water separators operate
- Touring an urban forest to discover how trees and green space help control storm water runoff
- Making the connection between storm drains and our waterways
- Using Native American history to learn how to live in balance with our environment
The goal of this program is to help children make informed decisions in their day-to-day lives that will keep them safer and will empower them to be stewards of the environment.
To schedule a field trip, please call the
Storm Water Hotline at 859-578-6745 or fill out our
Field Trip Request Form . To learn more about the field trips offered at Public Service Park, view the following list of Frequently Asked Questions:
- What educational activities are featured at Public Service Park?
- How will my students stay on track?
- How will my chaperones know what to do?
- How long is the field trip?
- What do we do for lunch?
- Are there rest rooms at the park?
- How should my students dress?
- Is there parking for the buses?
- How do I get to the park?
- What is the cost of the field trip?
- What safety concerns should I have?
- If there is an emergency, how can I be contacted at the park?
- Is the park handicapped-accessible?
- What are SD1’s learning goals for the field trip?
- How can I schedule a trip to Public Service Park?
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Featured Activities:
Wetland Classroom
Vegetated Roof
Creek Trail
Runoff Race
Cistern
Watershed World
Urban Forest
Oil/Water Separator
Hydro technology lab
Aquarium invertebrate lab
Detention Basin Safety
Porous Pavement
Native American History Creek Walk
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How will my students stay on track?
Each student will be given SD1’s national award-winning field notebook that will keep him or her focused and engaged. Aligned with the Kentucky Core Content Standards, the field notebook is set-up to give each student a task to perform at each featured activity.
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How will my chaperones know what to do?
Each chaperone will be given a field notebook guide that will allow them to properly facilitate each task required in each featured activity. In addition, prior to each field trip, chaperones will attend a one-hour training session. Click here to learn the specifics of this training program.
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How long is the field trip?
Field trips will run from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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What do we do for lunch?
Schools may bring packed lunches for the students.
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Are there rest rooms at the park?
There are portalets and hand sanitizer available.
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How should my students dress?
Students should wear tennis shoes and outdoor attire.
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Is there parking for buses?
Parking for buses is available at the north end of the park.
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How do I get to the park?
For directions to Public Service Park, click here.
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What is the cost of the field trip?
Admission is free.
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What safety concerns should I have?
For safety and identification purposes, students are required to wear nametags while visiting the park. Teachers are required to keep a class list with them at all times.
Chaperones will wear backpacks equipped with a first aid kit.
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If there is an emergency, how can I be contacted at the park?
Call the District’s main line at 859-578-7450 and ask for the District’s education coordinator, Witni Sztanyo.
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Is the Park handicapped accessible?
The park is handicapped accessible. Wheel chairs are not provided.
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What are SD1’s learning goals for the field trip?
Inform
Educate
Empower
Evoke a change of behavior
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How can I schedule a trip to Public Service Park?
Call the Storm Water Hotline at 859-578-6745 or fill out our Field Trip Request Form .
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* Notice: Use of the District's park and facilities are at your own risk under KRS KY 411.190, Kentucky State Recreational User Statutes. *
