MKA’s Community Service Project returned in September following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nearly 60 MKA employees, friends, and family gathered at Seattle’s Graham Hill Elementary School to breathe new life into an otherwise drab, concrete play area by creating a fun and inspiring space for children of all ages to learn and enjoy. The project list included two large shade structures, four sets of nestingbenches, four raised planter beds, tricycle and pedestrian paths, a wall with sensory and tactile panels, a compost bin, storage for tricycles and tools—and even a vibrant, water-themed mural measuring 72 feet long and 11 feet high, and featuring whales, salmon, a canoe, an octopus, and other Pacific Northwest emblems!
“This was probably one of the most ambitious community service projects we’ve undertaken in terms of scope and trying our hand at something new by painting a mural,
project co-leader Saya Kajiwara
“This was probably one of the most ambitious community service projects we’ve undertaken in terms of scope and trying our hand at something new by painting a mural,” said project co-leader Saya Kajiwara. “There was some day-of problem-solving. But all-in-all, it went very smoothly!”
Saya and project co-leader Dave Steele offered special “shout-outs” to design team leaders Michael Kearns, Anand Mourougassamy, Jeff Pope, Logan Stewart, Marissa Stone, and Ray Yu, as well as Jeremy Hasselbauer and Russell Larsen for cutting all that lumber! In addition, Phil Leithner with DeWALT donated the project’s anchors—and even demonstrated how to install anchors in concrete and asphalt properly.
Thank you to everyone who came out!! This project turned out #MKAwesome!