How do most new programs start? In response to a need. Park Street Kids began the result of more than two years of planning to meet the need for a new preschool alternative for families in Boston. It was a need not difficult to discern: long waiting lists at nearby programs alone provided convincing evidence that the demand for high-quality preschools far exceeded the supply. A collaborative effort led by a group of mothers at Park Street Church, Park Street Kids, Inc. was officially incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the fall of 1999. Our little school began dedicated to the moral, spiritual, and educational development of preschool-age children in our community.

Thanks to the generous financial support of Park Street Church and a private donor, we began to renovate our facility located within Park Street Church. We created a safe and innovative learning environment, hired a wonderful staff and assembled a Board of Directors with wealth of expertise both educational and professional. With the support of so many, and a willingness to contribute their skills, time and energies, our dream of a nursery school in downtown Boston became a reality. In September of 2000, we opened our doors to the first students. Thirty-six children joined four teachers and a director. Since then, we've grown. Our preschool now accepts more than 100 children per year.

Discerning a critical need for a high-quality elementary schooling led to the creation of Park Street School in 2002 an outgrowth of Park Street Kids. The need for additional elementary schooling alternatives expressed by families residing in downtown Boston has long been known by local officials, civic organizations, and community leaders. The establishment of Park Street School became a concerted effort to respond to this essential need. We also desired to continue to serve the families already committed to our school. Purchasing a school building in our Beacon Hill neighborhood has allowed us to keep our commitment to our community and the surrounding downtown Boston area and to house the school that we envisioned.