In recent years, tactical urbanism has helped reinvent many streets and sidewalks in center cities, creating new public spaces. But many spaces remain untouched. Anuj Gupta argues that reinvented schoolyards can be the next great public spaces.

The city of Philadelphia has some historic public spaces, some fantastic new public spaces, and a wealth of vibrant street life. It also has dozens of schools, with countless acres of open space, which, though they are physically integrated with their neighborhoods, are not the assets that they could be.
"Unfortunately, too often schoolyards are in deplorable condition, with pockmarked pavement, aging play equipment and few amenities. And yet they exude potential. There is more than sufficient evidence to suggest that safe, inviting and engaging play areas allow children to get the exercise they need, develop social skills and ultimately perform better in the classroom."
Anuj Gupta, director of a nonprofit community development corporation in Philadelphia, argues that the city's schoolyards represent a wealth the city's next great public spaces, which can serve not only the city's schoolchildren but also residents at large. He wants them to be greener, more attractive, more fun, and open to public uses. He suggests that efforts to renovate schoolyards will have ripple effects throughout the neighborhoods -- which will gain amenities -- and throughout the school district, which is losing students to charter schools. Schoolyards can give campuses "curb appeal." Parents, homeowners, and environmentalists alike can appreciate more attractive, better designed schoolyards.
Gupta calls for the creation of nonprofits to raise money and implement redesigns; citywide master plans and community plans that embrace, rather than ignore, schools; "friends" groups to maintain and promote redesigned schoolyards; leadership from sources other than the beleaguered school district; and tax-increment financing to pay for it and, ideally, capture increased property values that will result from attractive, healthy schoolyards/playgrounds/parks/community centers that will result.
FULL STORY: Philly’s Next Great Public Space? Schoolyards.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie