Lapham Elementary School

1045 E. Dayton Street, Madison WI 53703

Total Student Enrollment (as of 2013-2014): 273
TESTING PRIORITY: LOW
ABSTRACT
The main potential source of lead contamination in Lapham Elementary Schools garden would be
remnants of previously used lead paint and leaded gasoline. However, neither of these potential lead
sources represent a concern, given the gardens relatively far proximity from both East Washington Ave.
(nearest large road) and the school building. Moreover, many mitigation strategies are being used in the
garden, including: imported soils, imported compost and the use of raised beds. Therefore, the overall
testing priority for this school garden is low.
GARDEN CHARACTERISTICS
Garden Type: Laphams Outdoor Classroom and Community Garden was MMSDs first
school vegetable garden. The garden supports a variety of vegetables, berries including
raspberries, aronia and elderberries; a variety of perennial and edible flowers such as nasturtiums,
sunflowers, lilac bushes and herbs. There have been butterfly gardens and other themed gardens
in the past.
Bed Type: This garden uses raised beds to hold the soil in place.
Establishment: 1998 by Ken Swift, a former teacher (currently retired, but still serves on
Laphams Garden & Green Team).
Size: 7,904 square feet
Location on School Grounds: The garden is located in the corner of the school site
parallel with E. Dayton Street and perpendicular to N. Brearly Street. (See Photo Below)
Soil Type/Soil Origins: During the last four years (2011-2015) the soil has come from
UW West Ag Research Station and it is high quality compost. It is delivered through the
Gardener-in-Residence program administered through Community Ground Works.
Mitigation Used: Raised beds and imported soil/compost.
Has Soil Been Tested: No information found at the moment.
In 2013, 15 classrooms visited the garden at least once, amounting to over 1550 student visits to the
garden. In 2014, 17 classes visited garden from 1-3 times. Over the years, the garden has been utilized by
teachers and the community in a variety of ways, including community plots and gardeners-in-residence.
In 2013, Lapham was selected by Community Ground Works to participate in the 2013-2014 Growing
Outdoor Classrooms Program through a competitive grant process. This GROW grant allowed the
garden to double in size and introduced a wheelchair-friendly path, a fruit tree grove, and a sound
sculpture garden, as well as an upgrade to the irrigation system and gathering spaces.
NEARBY LAND USE
Major Roads: East Washington Ave.
According to aerial photos, East Washington Ave. was present at or before 1942. Lead gasoline was used
in cars that frequented East Washington until lead was phased out of gasoline in 1996. The four roads

bordering the school site include Ingersoll Street, E. Dayton Street, N. Brearly Street and E. Mifflin
Street. Based on aerial photos, these roads were present by 1885.
Currently, single and multi-family homes surround the school. There are no known industrial sites nearby.
PAST SITE USE
As of 1937, this site was bare land until the school was built in 1939. There were no other buildings
previously on site. The land was likely used for agriculture prior to the schools construction.
CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION
Lapham Elementary School was built in 1939. From aerial photos it does not look like Lapham
Elementary has had any building additions, however it is unclear if there have been any renovations.
BUILDING MATERIALS
Lapham Elementary School was built with brick and mortar. It is likely that lead paint was used inside the
building, since it was built before lead was phased out of paint. It is unlikely that a large amount of paint
was used on exterior walls since they are brick, which limits the potential of lead contamination in the
soils from rainfall on the building.

The current location of Laphams Outdoor Classroom and Community Garden is circled in red.

The school site is circled in black. This is an aerial photo taken 7/06/1937, prior to the establishment of
Lapham Elementary School.