Trust for Public Land and Forest Avenue Campus Celebrate New Community Schoolyard Opening in the Bronx
Trust for Public Land, in partnership with the four schools sharing the Forest Avenue campus (South Bronx Academy of Applied Media (X296), Academy of Public Relations (X298), Jill Chaifetz Transfer High School (X379), and P17), and the local community, is proud to announce the grand opening of a newly revitalized community schoolyard. Located on Forest Avenue in the Bronx, this new schoolyard will provide students and neighborhood residents with a dynamic, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable space to play, learn, and gather.
The innovative design features a wide range of amenities to engage people of all ages and interests. Highlights include a green roof gazebo, a turf field and running track, full basketball and volleyball courts, fitness and climbing equipment, and a colorful safety surface.
In addition to fostering active play and healthy lifestyles, the schoolyard includes picnic tables, game tables, an outdoor classroom with turf pod for gatherings, and vibrant art. Shaded areas provided by newly planted trees and a drinking fountain will make this space a welcoming oasis for not only students but the surrounding Bronx community.
“Every child deserves access to safe, green spaces where they can play and learn,” said Tamar Renaud, New York State Director for Trust for Public Land. “This new community schoolyard at the Forest Avenue Campus will not only bring joy and connection to students and neighbors—it will also contribute to a healthier, more climate-resilient city.”
Beyond play and recreation, the new schoolyard also supports climate resilience in the city. Designed with sustainability in mind, the site will collect and manage 1,308,000 gallons of stormwater each year—helping to reduce flooding and protect local waterways.
“DEP is proud to be a partner in this important program to rethink and rebuild school playgrounds as a way to strengthen the city’s infrastructure and improve our waterways,” said New York City Chief Climate Officer and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “As we face ongoing threats of more extreme weather and intense rainstorms that can overwhelm our sewers, Green Infrastructure playgrounds like this one in Morrisania play a crucial role in combatting flooding and reducing pollution. I’d like to thank The Trust for Public Land for their hard work in transforming this space, and all the students who helped design this wonderful new playground.”
“In New York City, we don’t have enough space for our infrastructure to just do one thing,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “The future is now, and our playgrounds can help us manage water from intense storms, provide shade on a hot day, and be an outdoor classroom while serving as a fun and safe place for some of the families that need it the most in our environmental justice communities.”
The new schoolyard is part of Trust for Public Land’s broader mission to create equitable access to nature, particularly in communities where green space has historically been limited.
“At the SCA, we believe that learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door,” said Nina Kubota, President and CEO of the New York City School Construction Authority. “This beautifully designed schoolyard reflects our commitment to creating inspiring, sustainable spaces that support student learning, health, and community well-being. We’re proud to partner on projects that help our schools become true neighborhood assets.”
The project was funded through a combination of public and private support, including funding from The Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, NYC DEP, NYC SCA, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and a grant from Long Island Sound Study (LISS), a collaborative effort between federal and state agencies, user groups, and concerned individuals to protect and improve the health of Long Island Sound. The study focuses on restoring and protecting the Sound through various initiatives, including water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, and community engagement.
About 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.
