Whittier Elementary

In South Scranton, an aging schoolyard is being transformed; not just into a greener, more welcoming space for kids to play and learn, but into a critical piece of local climate resilience.

With support from Trust for Public Land, the City of Scranton, Scranton School District, Valley In Motion, and other local partners, Whittier students have spent the past year taking part in a hands-on design process to reimagine their schoolyard. They’ve shared ideas for new playground features, studied how rain gardens and trees can cool their neighborhood, and learned how climate smart designs can help prevent flooding and protect the nearby Roaring Brook and Lackawanna River; key waterways within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The result: a visionary design that reflects the creativity and care of the Whittier community. The Whittier Community Schoolyard is the second of its kind in Scranton and part of Trust for Public Land’s growing community schoolyards program in Pennsylvania. In total, three new schoolyard transformations are planned for South Scranton alone—turning underused blacktop into vibrant, green spaces that offer shade, improve stormwater management, and give students and neighbors alike a safe place to gather, play, and connect.