Beyond the Blacktop
For millions of students, hot, uninviting, even dangerous patches of asphalt pass as public schoolyards and play spaces in the U.S. They look and feel like afterthoughts, even though we have research data and evidence that healthier schoolyards lead to healthier students and communities. We can and must do better for our kids. Trust for Public Land is the nationwide leader of a movement to bring climate resilience, educational equity, and high-quality outdoor spaces to the communities that stand to benefit the most.
By Trust for Public Land
Published August 18, 2025
What if every schoolyard sparked joy, connection, and pride, not just for students but for the whole neighborhood, all while becoming more resilient to climate threats like extreme heat and flooding? Community schoolyard transformations go beyond anything you or I could dream of. That’s because they’re shaped by the dreams of students, their vision for the kind of neighborhoods they want to grow up in. Find out how Trust for Public Land and our partners have created more than 350 neighborhood schoolyards that are now thriving, climate-resilient centers for learning and community.
Learn more about the work we do, and donate to support our work across the country turning dated schoolyards into vibrant green learning spaces that serve communities.
Community schoolyards advance health, climate, equity, and educational outcomes in students and their communities. They are an evidence-based initiative that works to address some of society’s greatest inequities.
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