Transforming asphalt schoolyards into green spaces with porous surfaces can improve the well-being of students and neighbors and contribute to more effective stormwater management in urban areas.
Schoolyards could be the next frontier for green infrastructure in urban areas, according to an article by Marianne Dhenin in Next City.
In dense urban areas such as New York City, building a new park can be an expensive undertaking. But redesigning existing schoolyards to be more green and ‘spongy’ can help with stormwater drainage, improve air quality, and bring green spaces to park-poor neighborhoods, closing the equity gap that leaves 100 million Americans with little or no access to nearby parks. “According to TPL, in 2022, at least 73 of the nation’s 100 largest cities opened schoolyards after hours to the general public, up from just 44 cities in 2018.”
The benefits of greener schoolyards extend to students, too. “Studies have linked vegetation in schoolyards to better school-wide academic performance, even after controlling for significant confounding factors like student poverty and minority status.”
Organizations including the Trust for Public Land (TPL) are working with schools around the country to develop their own schoolyard greening projects, and a bill introduced in the Senate last year would direct federal funding to the cause.
More on green schoolyards:
FULL STORY: Greener School Playgrounds Are An Overlooked Climate Solution
Outdoor Destinations for the Carless in Los Angeles
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Los Angeles County Launches New Power of Play Initiative
The L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation and the L.A. County Parks Foundation are partnering on an initiative to build awareness, support and a safety net to provide vulnerable youth and families access to high-quality programming.
The Social and Economic Benefits of Green Schoolyards
New research suggests that switching from asphalt to green, park-like schoolyards brings economic benefits in addition to public health improvements.
The End of Single-Family Zoning in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is the latest jurisdiction in the country to effectively end single-family zoning.
‘Train Daddy’ Andy Byford to Oversee Amtrak’s High-Speed Rail Efforts
Byford, who formerly ran NYC Transit and Transport for London, could bring renewed vigor to the agency’s plans to expand regional rail in the United States.
Seattle Bus Lane Cameras Capture Over 100,000 Violations
An automated traffic enforcement pilot program caught drivers illegally using transit lanes more than 110,000 times in less than a year.
Immigration Grows, Population Drops in Many U.S. Counties
International immigration to the country’s most populous areas tripled even as major metropolitan areas continued to lose population.
$616 Million in Development Incentives Approved for District Detroit
The “Transformational Brownfield” incentives approved by the Detroit City Council for the $1.5 billion District Detroit still require approval by the state.
Affordable Housing Development Rejected for Lack of Third Staircase in Connecticut
The New Canaan Planning Commission rejected a development proposal, including 31 below-market-rate apartments, for lack of a third staircase, among other reasons, at a time when advocates are pushing to relax two-staircase requirements.
Houston-Galveston Area Council
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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City of Lomita
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