An independent or small-group mathematics project affording learners the opportunity to desight their very own city part while managing a budget and meeting project specifications. But this is no regular end-of-year project; every aspect of this project is directly related to real-world cost, use, and application. WHAT’S INCLUDED This resource contains: –> Step-by-Step Instructions –> Items & Specifications Page –> Budgeting Spreadsheet –> Building an Ideal Park Brainstorming Sheet –> Map / Blueprint Printable –> Extension Activities –> Rubric –> Project Examples –> An assignable Easel activity STORY After teaching many weeks of decimal multiplication and division and getting some practice balancing budgets, I wanted a way to let my students practice these skills using a bit of their own creativity and choice. But perusing the other projects on Teachers Pay Teachers, I noticed that most of them felt like “fluff” and didn’t really get to the real-world mathematics or problem-based learning for which I was truly looking. IMPLEMENTATION This 3-week independent project is ready to implement in your classroom with many pages of step-by-step instructions for completing the project. Learners will use the equipment sold on www.gametime.com to make choices about what they wish they had in a park in their neighborhood. But building a park is more complicated than just picking a park and planting trees. Learners will have to calculate areas for a dog park, basketball courts, and even the concrete running path that they will include in their park. Students will have to consider which surfacing option for their playground will be the most effective or most cost-effective or most functional. Prices of these can vary by the ton or the cubic feet that they occupy. Learners will be converting units, calculating volumes and areas, deciding on cost effectiveness, and balancing a budget to create the most exciting park they can that still follows the city’s requirements. POSSIBLE EXTENSIONS When they finish their project designs, learners have their choice of 4 extension activities outlined in the resource including designing a radio advertisement to raise money for the park, writing a letter to the mayor, creating a project proposal for a board meeting, or designing a brochure to bring new people to the park. MATERIALS/PREREQUISITES Besides this resource, you may require: –> Computers/tablets for the students to use gametime.com –> Rulers for accurate map drawing –> Pictures of other parks for inspiration –> Calculators (optional)