Star Power: The River Farm Park Kids

Meet five Service Stars. Pictured from left are Ariana Garcia (10), Mackenzie McGann (10), Maeve Smith (9), Aria Mancini (10), and Hannah McGann (10). These friends worked together to rejuvenate River Farm Park, a green space in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, where they live. And they added a Little Free Library to the space. TFK reader Abby Malgieri spoke with the group about their efforts.

What inspired you to start this project?

Maeve: Our third-grade teacher, Mrs. Palmer, sometimes gave us different challenges. One of them was to do a community impact project.

Mackenzie: We wanted to build a Little Free Library, but we also wanted to make the park a better place.

Hannah: Before we restored the park, it was run-down and nobody really used it. So we met with the town and told them what we wanted to do.

Did you face any challenges while restoring the park?

Mackenzie: First, we had to write a letter for a grant.

Hannah: If we did get the grant, we could put it toward the Little Free Library. We did not get the grant. That was a problem we faced.

Aria: We still had to raise money for this thing!

Did you receive help from anyone in your community?

Aria: From our school, Hanaford Elementary School.

Hannah: We made an announcement at school so the students could donate. That’s how we got our books and money.

After you restored the park, how did you feel?

Hannah: I felt glad because the park was better. The grand opening was really fun. A few of our teachers were there.

Do you hope to inspire anyone with this project?

Aria: I hope to inspire the whole community of East Greenwich, Rhode Island.

Maeve: I hope that little kids will notice, and they’ll get inspired to do the same thing. You can make a difference, no matter how small, or big, or medium-sized you are.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.