Park Middle School families celebrated the start of the 2026-27 school year in a centennial state of mind.

Multiple generations of Panthers came to campus to mark the school building’s 100th anniversary. The current structure was built in 1926 and has been the site of many academic success stories. The building was an elementary school for more than 60 years before switching to the intermediate levels in the early 1990s.

Susan Stratton-Scheer, Nancy Stratton-Kennedy and Linda Statton smiled as they reminisced about their elementary days. All three sisters began their Lincoln Public Schools careers in Park classrooms. Stratton-Scheer entered the doors for the first time in 1958, Stratton-Kennedy started kindergarten in 1960 and Statton first walked on campus in 1962.

The three Park alumni said they specifically remembered kindergarten classes with Doris Parmenter. The classroom had its own bathrooms and coat closet, and everyone enjoyed cartons of milk during the day.

“Miss Parmenter was just amazing,” Stratton-Kennedy said. “I think all of us had Miss Parmenter for kindergarten.”

“I just remember going to Miss Parmenter’s room,” Stratton-Scheer said. “It was the very first door. She was the kindergarten teacher forever, I think.”

Park Principal Charlotte Everts said those types of fond memories are why the school decided to hold an anniversary celebration. More than a dozen current Panthers gave detailed tours to interested patrons, and commemorative videos played on a large pulldown screen in the cafeteria. Lincoln historian Ed Zimmer also gave a presentation in the multipurpose room about Park’s important role in the community.

In addition, many people took advantage of Park’s artificial turf playground. They threw footballs back and forth, kicked soccer balls into nets and played volleyball and cornhole games together.

“I thought that our 100-year celebration was a huge success,” Everts said. “We had a fantastic turnout, and people were genuinely thrilled to be back in the space. A big part of that success comes down to the planning committee. They did a great job of making sure that there was a wide range of things to do and a large number of staff were at the event to help.”

LPS constructed the original Park school building in 1882 between 7th and 8th streets and F and G streets. Contractors Hobson and Campbell finished the project for $7,621. A second section of the original structure was built in 1883 for $5,900. LPS added a third section of eight classrooms to the three-story facility in 1893 for $7,338.

Park’s enrollment continued to grow in the ensuing decades. Principal M.B. Fleming oversaw 13 teachers at Park’s campus in the 1903-04 school year, and Mary O’Connor led 19 people in her first year as the school’s principal in 1914-15. The staff list jumped to 24 educators by the 1922-23 session.

LPS erected the current building at 855 South 8th St. in 1926. It served thousands of younger students during its time as an elementary site. Scores of dedicated teachers such as Parmenter, Marie Young, Mildred Ohslund, Harlan Mahaffy and M. Vera Murray guided them in math, reading, science, social studies, music, art and physical education lessons.

Park underwent extensive renovations in the early 1990s when Everett Junior High and Park Elementary School switched roles. Park became a junior high building and Everett became an elementary facility. Park housed students from both schools in the 1991-92 academic year while remodeling work took place.

LPS has continued to make both academic and facility investments at Park. The building is currently home to sixth, seventh and eighth graders who take a variety of classes in many educational subjects. The school also offers multiple extracurricular activities such as performing arts and athletics.

LPS recently completed an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) project at Park that received an award from the United States Department of Energy in 2023. Workers installed a geothermal heating and cooling system with 212 wells and 108 water source heat pumps, a heat-recovery dedicated outside air system and an advanced air-filtration system.

The project also featured the installation of air conditioning in Park’s gym spaces and an artificial turf field on the southwest end of campus. Expanded cafeteria space has given students more room to eat breakfast and lunch as well.

The three sisters marveled at the changes that have taken place since their time in Park classrooms. They stood in a spot of the building that was once the site of the elementary playground. It is now part of a hallway where a centennial banner and colorful balloons were hanging for the celebration.

“We would be almost behind the actual building,” Statton said. “There was nothing here.”

Everts said student tour guides gave visitors additional context for those changes. They showed them where current classrooms are located, told them how the building has expanded and spoke about their time as Park Panthers.

“They did an exceptional job of welcoming our visitors and giving tours while sharing Park/Lincoln history,” Everts said. “They were even able to answer questions as they came up. They represented our building really well!”

Everts said the Park community will continue to talk about the school’s history and celebrate the building in informal ways throughout the year. That sounded good to Statton, who said she was impressed with what she saw in the structure’s centennial year.

“It’s nice,” Statton said.

Learn how community engagement efforts are a key part of the 2024-29 LPS Strategic Plan.

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