Trust for Public Land Opens Vibrant FAIR School Crystal Community Schoolyard, Cultivating Creativity, Nature, and Equity
Crystal, Minn. — Trust for Public Land (TPL) is proud to celebrate the opening of the new community schoolyard at FAIR School Crystal, marking a milestone in transforming school campuses into inclusive green places for both students and neighborhood residents. Developed in partnership with school leaders, educators, students, and the local community, this dynamic space blends science, art, and nature—supporting educational innovation and healthier, more equitable communities.
FAIR School Crystal—serving grades 6–8 with a fine-arts integrated curriculum—prioritizes development of creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. TPL worked with 6th grade students and school staff to reimagine an otherwise underutilized space as a community schoolyard, merging open-air learning, nature exploration, and public access.
“Every child deserves access to a safe, welcoming place to play and learn outside, and schoolyards are one of the fastest, smartest ways to close the park equity gap,” said Sophie Harris Vorhoff, Minnesota Program Director at Trust for Public Land. “The new schoolyard at FAIR School Crystal reflects what’s possible when we center student voices and community needs. Together, we’re building healthier, more resilient neighborhoods where every family can thrive.”
The renovated schoolyard features:
- Outdoor learning areas that integrate science, art, and nature into everyday curriculum
- Native plant gardens, walkable paths, shaded reading nook, and interactive zones for nature-based exploration
- A welcoming environment open to the broader neighborhood after school hours, fostering community connection and equitable access to green space
“This outdoor classroom was created with our students at the heart of it and made possible through the power of community partnership—it reflects their voices, their needs, and their dreams for how learning should feel,” said Principal Zoraba Ross.
Community schoolyards are a proven, cost-effective solution to closing the park equity gap—especially in neighborhoods with limited park access. For many, FAIR School Crystal is now a green oasis within a ten-minute walk. Nationwide, Trust for Public Land estimates that transforming public schoolyards into shared parks could bring green space within walking distance to nearly 20 million more people.
FAIR School Crystal’s new schoolyard is one of five projects launched through TPL’s Minnesota Community Schoolyards program. In June 2025, TPL broke ground on projects at Franklin Elementary (Rochester), Endazhi-Nitaawiging Charter School (Red Lake), Maxfield Elementary (St. Paul), Brooklyn Center Elementary (Brooklyn Center), and FAIR School Crystal, all aimed at expanding community-centered green spaces across Minneapolis-area schools.
Funding for these initiatives comes through partnerships with Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources), along with support from private funders, and local and state public agencies including the Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission.
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 $111 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.
