Students Create Arts and Enrichment Room at Water Tower Rec Center

This spring, SCH’s Upper School Service Council transformed a space in the Chestnut Hill Water Tower Recreation Center into a creative haven for students in the after-school program, winning 3rd place ($5,000) in the Community Partners Category at the ceremony on May 1. 

The project was personal for Service Council co-head Chloe Hanson, who grew up attending the same aftercare program through J.S. Jenks Elementary School. After noticing a lack of access to creative spaces in the community, Service Council spent months revitalizing a "worn-down" area into a bright, inviting sanctuary.

"It’s about paying attention to what’s missing, what’s needed, and where we can make something better for people who deserve it," said Hanson. "The kids here have so much imagination and talent, and they deserve the chance to explore it fully."

The team made a plan and cleared out the space, said Addison Rhodes, co-head of Service Council alongside Hanson. They added paintings and murals inspired by Philadelphia and the surrounding communities and, thanks to an Amazon storefront, stocked the room with new art supplies, books, and furniture. Now, it's an organized, multipurpose room for students to create in.

The initiative follows the council's previous work providing book baskets for the center, further strengthening the bond between the students and the community. For the Service Council, the goal was simple: ensure every child feels seen and inspired.

“Art is not just about painting or drawing. It’s about having a place to express yourself, to feel calm, to feel seen. And for a lot of these kids, that space just didn’t exist,” said Hanson. “This project isn’t just about a renovated art room. It’s about giving kids access to something they might not otherwise have. It’s about creating a space where they can explore, imagine, and just be kids. And honestly, it’s about making sure they feel like they’re worth the effort, because they are.”

Watch the video!