John M. Patterson Elementary School

For students at Philadelphia’s John M. Patterson Elementary School, recess meant playing on a deteriorating concrete yard that resembled a prison yard rather than a playground.

Trust for Public Land has discovered that playgrounds can unleash a wealth of benefits for students and communities. Green, healthy schoolyards maximize health, wellness, community, and environmental benefits while improving learning and quality of life for students and nearby residents. Studies reveal that spending time in nature can reduce stress, anger, and aggression and boost communication and relationship skills.

Seeing a need for a healthy outdoor space, the principal and teachers of Patterson Elementary contacted TPL for help. We implemented our Community Schoolyards initiative and collaborated with teachers, students, and the community to design and build a vibrant green space for students and neighbors to enjoy.

Community schoolyards are a low-cost, effective solution to park access that promotes a healthy lifestyle, reduces educational disparities, and improves educational outcomes while making underserved communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

The new schoolyard includes a rain garden, basketball court, running track, turf field, and various kinds of play equipment where students and neighbors can exercise, play, and learn. Immediate benefits included reducing stormwater runoff and adding space for the community to enjoy the outdoors. In addition, Principal Kenneth Jessup reported that suspensions dropped from 50 to zero in just one year.

Now, the school’s 600 students and the nearly 3,000 children who live nearby are within a 10-minute walk of a dynamic park.