The St. Ignatius School District hosted a ribbon-cutting at the new middle school green space on Thursday, Sept. 10, to thank the community for their donations and hard work, which made this possible. 

Earlier this summer, Mission Lawn and Landscape was contacted to complete some green space work for the St. Ignatius Middle School. After learning the school staff's vision, they ran with it and started dreaming a little bit bigger. 

The project included a new artificial turf volleyball court, a natural sod area with trees, a new ADA sidewalk and more. At a total project cost of $250,000, Adam Wood, the owner of Mission Lawn and Landscape, started calling other local business owners to help make it happen. 

Mission Lawn and Landscape served as the general contractor, and companies such as Treasure State Concrete, Wall and Slab Concrete Construction, All Electric Heating and Air and Energy Partners donated labor or materials. 

According to previous Leader reporting, Wood’s crew broke ground on the space on July 1 and was still seeking donations to help pay for the $35,000 cost of artificial turf. Michelle Wood explained that she reached out to Valley Bank, which opened a bank account for project donations and donated to the project. To raise the needed funds, she posted on Facebook and contacted local businesses. 

They raised about $10,000 in donations, and the school also helped cover much of the turf material. 

Superintendent Jason Sargent stated this has been the biggest volunteer project the district has been a part of in the last 50 years. 

“We are absolutely beyond pleased and happy to offer this space for our students. This was started by teachers, coordinated with administration and completed by community volunteers,” he stated. “We can not thank these donors enough for the opportunity they have given our students. Michelle and Adam Wood carried the weight of this project, and all of the donors who contributed; we are grateful.” 

After the ribbon cutting, students spread out in their new space, enjoying the shaded corners or playing volleyball and basketball. 

“It was so amazing, and just seeing the variety,” Michelle said. “It just gives the kids such a variety of things that they can do, and it meets the needs of even the kids that don't want to play rough. They just want to sit quietly in the shade on nice ground and hang out with their friends.”

Middle school green space donors 

Majority Donor $100K plus: 

Adam and Michelle Wood — Mission Lawn and Landscape

$2500 plus:

Eric Huffine — Wall and Slab Concrete Construction 

Energy Partners Propane 

Aaron Luper — All Electric, Heating and Air, LLC

Cassidy Rehbein — Treasure State Concrete

Headwaters Foundation 

Valley Banks 

Glacier Bank 

$1000 plus:

Andrya Nelson 

Gambles Hardware 

Stuart’s Hometown Auto 

Mission Country Market

$100-$500:

Loulou’s Laundromat 

Susan Rudisill 

Thelma Olsen 

    Mission students take straight to their new space after the ribbon-cutting, enjoying everything it has to offer. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 Middle and High School Principal Shawn Hendrickson thanks the many donors who helped make this new green space possible at the St. Ignatius Middle School. (Emily Messer/Leader)  Adam and Michelle Wood, owners of Mission Lawn and Landscape, were large donors to the project and helped coordinate efforts with other businesses and school staff. (Emily Messer/Leader)