New Green Schoolyard Opening at P.S. 130K in Brooklyn

The Trust for Public Land, with support from the NYC Department of Education and NYC School Construction Authority, announced today the opening of the newly renovated schoolyard at P.S. 130K in Brooklyn. The schoolyard is part of our New York City Playgrounds Program where we aim to transform asphalt playgrounds into vibrant city parks open to the community. 

“Over the past year, parks and playgrounds have proven to be essential spaces for New Yorkers mental and physical well-being,” said Carter Strickland, New York State Director for The Trust for Public Land. “In addition to serving the entire community as a place for kids and families to get out and play, this new schoolyard will also have an outdoor classroom space for learning. We are grateful for support from Former State Assembly Member James Brennan, NYS Assembly Member Robert Carroll, and New York City Council Member Brad Lander to make this schoolyard a reality.”

The schoolyard was designed using The Trust for Public Land’s unique participatory design process where teachers and students contributed ideas and voted on the final plan. The updated schoolyard features a turf field, running path, tables for playing games, climbing equipment, trees for shade, and outdoor classroom space.

“Just last fall our schoolyard was a wasteland of cracked asphalt. We’re incredibly grateful that our children can now play in a safe and joyful space,” said Principal Stephanie Parsons. “It’s especially gratifying that this beautiful playground will benefit our whole community in so many ways.”

Sustainable materials used in the design elements like the turf field will also help reduce stormwater runoff that can flood streets and overwhelm sewer systems, allowing untreated water to end up polluting New York City waterways.

“I am thrilled to see the completion of this fantastic play space,” said Councilmember Brad Lander. “It represents the very best in community-based collaboration—from the participatory budgeting funding to the student-centered participatory design process to the partnership between DOE, SCA, and TPL that brought those community efforts to life. I know this playground will provide many years of sustainable fun and enrichment to the students of PS 130 as well as the surrounding community.”

For nearly 25 years, The Trust for Public Land has guided thousands of students and parents in school districts from coast to coast to make the most of their schoolyards. The Trust for Public Land has transformed more than 250 underused schoolyards nationwide into nature-rich parks designed to address inequities in education, health, and climate impacts. Every one of our green schoolyard transformations includes agreements between a school district and other local agencies to allow the community to use the space when school is closed. 

According to research from The Trust for Public Land, open access to all public schoolyards during non-school hours would put a park within a 10-minute walk of more than 19.6 million people, including 5.2 million children, who currently lack access.  

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About The Trust for Public Land 
The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live within a 10-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.