Three Fairfield iJAG students are bringing home a first-place finish after competing at the Skills Development Conference at the University of Northern Iowa, defeating teams from nine other schools across Iowa.
Reyna Gonzalez, Abbigail Beggs, and Hannah Giberson, students in Mrs. Bradfield’s iJAG class, earned top honors with their presentation of The L.O.V.E. Project — a community-focused initiative aimed at making Fairfield’s skatepark a safer and more welcoming space for everyone.
The Fairfield skatepark has been a community fixture since it was built in 2014, serving as a gathering spot for skaters of all ages and backgrounds. However, the students identified a growing concern: the current artwork and graffiti displayed at the facility does not provide a comfortable atmosphere for all visitors, creating an unequal experience for families with younger skaters versus the broader skate community. Their project set out to change that.
The students researched the costs associated with removing graffiti and vandalism, explored ways to better support families and young skaters, and worked to incorporate the existing skate community into positive, forward-looking solutions — with the goal of ensuring equal access and a welcoming environment for everyone. Their presentation impressed judges enough to claim first place in a competitive field of ten school teams from across the state.
The project goes beyond a classroom exercise — the team identified a real community need and developed a thoughtful, actionable plan to address it. Their next step will be presenting their ideas to the Fairfield Beautification Commission as they continue working to turn their proposals into reality.
