Trust for Public Land, I.S. 224 Celebrates New Community Green Space in the Mott Haven area of the Bronx
Today, Trust for Public Land joined students, families, educators, community members, and city partners to celebrate the opening of the new community schoolyard at I.S. 224 with International Community High School & Academy of Applied Mathematics and Technology.
The new schoolyard was designed by students, staff, and community members through Trust for Public Land’s NYC Playgrounds Program. The program includes a participatory design process where students and community members are invited to share ideas on the design of the space, ensuring it is created to meet the needs of the community.
“Community schoolyards are so much more than places to play – they are climate resilient parks that create space for students and families to gather together and enjoy nature,” said Tamar Renaud, New York State Director. “TPL is proud to work hand in hand with our dedicated partners and the I.S 224 school community to deliver a welcoming space that is open to all.”
The transformed playground includes trees, turf, pavers, and other green infrastructure elements designed to capture more than one inch of rainwater during storm events and approximately 2,027,130 gallons of stormwater annually. The project also expands access to quality outdoor space for approximately 43,461 residents living within a 10-minute walk of the schoolyard.
This new community park was made possible through a partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ), the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) and the New York City Department of Education (DOE).
“Our partnership with the Trust for Public Land reflects a shared commitment to creating spaces that enrich both schools and the communities they serve,” said Nina Kubota, President and CEO of the NYC School Construction Authority. “As the weather warms and school lets out, this new community schoolyard will become an important neighborhood resource, expanding access to high-quality resilient outdoor space for more than 43,000 residents living nearby.”
Since 1996, Trust for Public Land’s public-private partnership model in New York City has designed and/or transformed more than 240 community schoolyards – putting quality green space within a 10-minute walk for more than 5.3 million New York City residents.
Trust for Public Land’s Community Schoolyards initiative works with students, educators, families, and local residents to design vibrant outdoor spaces that support recreation, environmental education, climate resilience, and public health. Across New York City, these projects help reduce urban heat, absorb stormwater, and increase access to parks in communities where open space is limited.
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 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit www.tpl.org
