Fred A. Toomer Elementary School Hosts Ribbon Cutting for New Community Schoolyard
Trust for Public Land and Atlanta Public Schools (APS) celebrated the May 7 ribbon cutting of the newly transformed Fred A. Toomer Elementary School schoolyard in the Kirkwood neighborhood—a vibrant, multi-use environment that supports learning, play and community connection.
The project is part of Trust for Public Land’s Community Schoolyards program, a national initiative designed to expand access to the outdoors by transforming school grounds into public parks during non-school hours—bringing more communities within a 10-minute walk of a park. In Atlanta, the program is delivered in partnership with APS, Urban Land Institute Atlanta and Park Pride, with generous support from the philanthropic community.
Over the past five years, Trust for Public Land and APS have worked together to reimagine 14 schoolyards across the city, turning them into safe, green and welcoming spaces that serve students during the day and neighbors after hours. These efforts create healthier, more equitable communities and introduce students to careers in placemaking and sustainability.
“The Fred A. Toomer Elementary Schoolyard is a perfect example of what happens when community, creativity, and equity come together,” said Jay Wozniak, Director of the Georgia Urban Parks Program for Trust for Public Land. “This space will serve generations of students and neighbors as a place to learn, play and connect with nature.”
The newly renovated Toomer Elementary schoolyard includes playful and practical features—a hill slide, musical instruments, picnic tables, outdoor seating and a shade pavilion—designed with input from students, teachers and local partners. These additions support outdoor education, neighborhood use and community gathering.
The project also honors the school’s deep roots in the community. Its layout reflects the historic Atlanta-Decatur trolley line, and the athletic fields play a vital role in Atlanta’s youth soccer culture. Toomer Elementary remains a beloved home for local clubs like Inter Atlanta FC.
A defining feature of the transformation is the restoration of Hardee Creek, a once-hidden natural resource now integrated into the schoolyard’s design. In collaboration with the City of Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management, the project includes green infrastructure that enhances stormwater health and supports ecological learning.
The project was made possible through the support of long-standing partners, including the Zeist Foundation, which was inspired by strong local engagement and the lasting impact of shared community spaces.
To learn more about the Community Schoolyards program and Trust for Public Land’s work in Atlanta, visit www.tpl.org.
About The Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $110 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
About Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state of Georgia, serving approximately 50,000 students across 87 schools and five programs. The District is organized into nine K-12 clusters with 64 traditional schools, 19 charter schools, six partner schools, two alternative schools and five alternative programs. To learn more about Atlanta Public Schools, follow us on social media – Twitter (@apsupdate), Facebook (Atlanta Public Schools), and Instagram (aps update) – or visit us online at www.atlantapublicschools.us.
About Urban Land Institute Atlanta
ULI Atlanta is a District Council of the Urban Land Institute. With more than 1,400 members across Georgia, Alabama and eastern Tennessee, ULI Atlanta is one of the largest and most active ULI District Councils worldwide. The mission of the Urban Land Institute is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities.
About Park Pride
In 2019, Park Pride celebrates 30 years of engaging communities to activate the power of parks! Working with over 150 local Friends of the Park groups, Park Pride provides leadership, services, and funding to help communities realize their dreams for neighborhood parks that support healthy people, strong neighborhoods, vibrant business districts, a robust economy and a healthy environment. Park Pride is active in greenspace advocacy and educating both civic leaders and the public about the benefits of parks, and annually hosts the Parks and Greenspace Conference. Learn more about Park Pride at parkpride.org.
