A group of Montgomery County high school students is transforming an empty lot in Rockville into a community-centered green space designed to promote environmental awareness, connection and accessibility.
The student-led initiative, called “Green Corners for Everyone,” was created through the Student Global Ambassador Program, a non-profit that supports teens and post-high school students for success. They promote leadership and encourage students to lead sustainable community efforts.
The project began earlier this year after students from several Montgomery County Public Schools joined together around a shared interest in sustainability and community service.
“This year, I’m taking AP Environmental Science, and it really opened my eyes to sustainability and climate change,” said Sofia Battistel, a junior at Magruder High School who is also a financial coordinator for the project. “I wanted to become part of a project that could create real change in the community.”
Max Weiner, a sophomore at Walter Johnson High School, who also co-managed and co-designed the team project said that the “initiative offered an opportunity not only to earn student service hours, but also to meet peers committed to addressing environmental challenges.”
The students spent months researching locations, developing design plans and coordinating resources before selecting a site at Neighborhood Church in Rockville. The location was chosen because it is accessible to the broader community.
“We wanted to create a community space that anyone could come and enjoy,” Andrew Nam freshman at Richard Montgomery High School said. “We wanted people to explore nature and be around native plants.”
The green corner will include trees, flowers, benches, a small soccer goal and possibly a Little Free Library to encourage reading and outdoor activity.
Students said accessibility and inclusivity became major priorities during the design process.
“This was all of our first time designing a public space,” Weiner said. “We wanted to focus on creating a space where anyone could feel comfortable.”
The group faced setbacks early in the process after its original location fell through, forcing students to quickly identify an alternative site while staying on schedule. Despite the challenge, organizers secured a $1,000 grant from Youth Service America and began working with county environmental programs to gather supplies and trees.
The first Green Corner build day is scheduled for May 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 16501 Redland Road in Rockville. Organizers said volunteers and community members are encouraged to participate in planting and setup activities.
Kelsey Desmond, a forest conservation planner with the Montgomery Planning Department, said the county connected with the students through the Reforest Montgomery program, which supports tree planting and forest restoration projects across the county.
“I think a very hopeful and optimistic act is planting a tree,” Desmond said. “It’s an investment in your future.”
Desmond said forests provide critical environmental and mental health benefits, including improved air quality, stormwater retention and community well-being.
Students involved in the project said the experience has taught them leadership, teamwork and responsibility while proving that community change can happen on a local level.
“When we first thought about building a park, it seemed impossible,” Nam said. “But it only takes a couple thousand dollars, teamwork and a few hours a week to create massive change.”
The students hope the Rockville green corner becomes the first of many across Montgomery County.