Green Schoolyards Offer Respite From Urban Heat

In an article for La Voce di New York, Amelia Tricante describes how schools around the country are revamping their schoolyards to include more trees and plants, providing much-needed green space in urban areas.

As Tricante explains, “It isn’t merely about aesthetics; it’s part of a larger push to address the public health risks posed by extreme heat, especially in schools located in urban areas with limited green space.”

Asphalt, which blankets many schoolyards and playgrounds, retains heat and contributes to the urban heat island effect, driving up temperatures on surfaces and in the surrounding air. “Researchers have measured surface temperatures of up to 145 degrees Fahrenheit, putting children at risk of heat-related illnesses and burns. Even alternative surfaces like rubber and artificial turf, which many schools have turned to in recent years, can become unbearably hot.”

But tree planting and landscaping efforts cost money school districts often don’t have. In California, a state bond on November’s ballot could contribute to tree planting initiatives, while Los Angeles has pledged $500 million to schoolyard greening efforts. “In districts where resources are stretched thin, finding a balance between cooling the playgrounds and managing ongoing costs remains a difficult equation.”