Students design and build community gathering spot in Milwaukee's Sherman Park neighborhood

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A group of Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) students gathered for a summer camp run by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the Sherman Park neighborhood. 

Despite the impromptu frisbee game they enjoyed, the young people were there to do more than play. 

Their mission was to create a gathering spot for people who live around 55th and Center. 

The summer camp for MPS kids is run by UWM's College of Engineering and Applied Science and its School of Architecture & Urban Planning. 

Here's how the project worked: students received suggestions on what to build from the Sherman Park neighbors and they took over from there. 

"But it needed an overall site plan and so we charged the students with making that site plan and building what they could build in a week, which is the structure that they have behind us -- they call it the 'lounge,'" said Chris Beimborn, STEM outreach manager at UWM. 

"We're just trying to elevate more and bring more people into the community, like a lot more positivity and, you know, just keep all the negativity out," said Javonte Rodriguez, Riverside High School student. 

The "lounge" at 55th and Center includes a bench, some flowers and a little free library. 

The students were scheduled to finish up Friday afternoon, with a ribbon cutting to follow.