A Call for Reimagined Schoolyards

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.