A while back, Dr. Chris Paysinger, the director of the Athens City School’s Exchange program, noticed that a narrow alleyway near the corner of Jefferson and Market streets in Athens had become a real eyesore. That’s all about to change, however, thanks to the efforts of a group of Athens Renaissance high school students who attend classes at the Exchange.

Since the start of the school year, the ARS students have been working hard to design and plan a pop-up park for the space that runs along the building where Terranova’s restaurant and UG White Mercantile are located. The fall-themed park will be open from Oct. 1 through the county’s Nov. 17 bicentennial celebration.

Using everything from math for measuring the area, to art for designing the scarecrows that will line the unsightly fence that divides the alleyway, to carpentry skills to build the planters to soften the space, the pop-up park includes all the best elements of project-based learning.

Students started sketching out their designs for the scarecrows during class Thursday, which is about three-quarters of the way through the project.

After casting votes, the group settled on a combined Day of the Dead and Hocus Pocus theme for their family of scarecrows.

Ella White, a freshman who comes from a home-school background, carefully sketched a decorative skull, getting inspiration from photos her English teacher, Leigh Boulineau, shared with her on her cellphone.

“I like crafts and art, so I love doing stuff like this,” said White, who also likes socializing with her new friends at ARS.

This week, students also built planters from wood salvaged from renovations on the upper portion of the school.

“It’s great when you see kids who think they’re not into something like math, but then they see the practical application of it — like measuring and angles — and they find out they actually really like it,” Paysinger said.

Cameron Pavlik, a junior who transferred to ARS from the Huntsville school system, was one of those kids.

“I had no idea I was this good with wood,” Pavlik said. “I’m terrible at real math but I guess I’m good at math that applies to real life.”

That is one of the goals of the Renaissance School.

“You can deal with theory all day long in a passive classroom setting,” Paysinger said. “But without putting students in a situation where they can get practical hands-on experience, we are missing a huge opportunity to help kids reach their full potential.”

This year, the district decided to move ARS high school students who were part of the blended program to the Exchange, where they could get extra help with their virtual classes and participate in project-based learning projects such as the pop-up park.

ARS offers several learning options to students, ranging from completely virtual to blended. Students in the blended groups meet at the Exchange either Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays for two hours each session.

Twelfth-grader Haley Hargrove said she appreciates the format at ARS because she has some hearing loss. Hargrove transferred from Athens High School to ARS her junior year.

“I felt a lot of pressure when I was at Athens because I had to strain to hear, but I love it here because it’s a small group and there isn’t so many distractions. Plus, I like working at home at my own pace.”

Paysinger said once the group is done with the pop-up park, which will also include seating and stringed lighting, they hope to have a role in the upcoming Athens Storytelling Festival.

Although the ARS group has most everything in place to make the pop-up park a success, they still need flowers to fill their planters. If you are interested is donating mums to the group, please call 256-627-3139.