New Community Schoolyard Opens at Alain Locke School, Enhancing Outdoor Learning and Play for Students and Families

Trust for Public Land and local partners helped create this public space that will give 7,000 residents new access to the outdoors within a 10-minute walk

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Trust for Public Land (TPL) is pleased to announce the opening of its newest Community Schoolyard at Alain Locke School, transforming an asphalt lot into a dynamic and greened community space. This event signifies a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life for residents of Philadelphia.

Located in West Philadelphia, Alain Locke School has long been a cornerstone of the community. With a commitment to fostering learning and community engagement, TPL partnered with Locke Elementary and various stakeholders to reimagine the schoolyard as a multifunctional space that will serve as a catalyst for social, recreational, and educational activities.

"Trust for Public Land is thrilled to open this transformative space that will not only benefit the students of Locke Elementary but also residents of the Mill Creek, West Powelton, and Belmont neighborhoods," said Owen Franklin, Vice President of the Great Lakes Region for Trust for Public Land. "This space represents a commitment to providing students and the community with a safe, vibrant area to learn, play, and connect. It's not just a playground; it's a place where creativity can flourish and the bonds of community can grow stronger."

The transformation of the schoolyard includes the installation of new play equipment, green infrastructure elements, and outdoor classroom space. These enhancements will not only provide students with a safe and engaging environment for learning and play but also create opportunities for residents of all ages to come together, connect with nature, and lead active lifestyles. The schoolyard will be open to the public after school hours and designed to meet the needs of the more than 7,000 people who live within a 10-minute walk.

In 2017, Alain Locke was named one of Philadelphia's Community Schools. Community Schools are a partnership among the City of Philadelphia, the School District of Philadelphia, and school communities to remove barriers to learning and support the success of each student. In each Community School, a Community School Coordinator supports strategic partnerships and programs that promote wellness, stability, and learning opportunities for students, families, and neighbors.

The new schoolyard was funded in great part by the U.S. Department of Education's Promise Neighborhoodsgrant, designed to improve educational and developmental outcomes for children in distressed communities across the country.

There is growing evidencethat having access to the outdoors has positive impacts on academic, behavioral, and health improvements. Locke has the highest concentration of students living in public housing or shelters of any school in the district, and this new space has the power to be a crucial resource for students who might not thrive in a traditional class setting.

TPL extends its gratitude to all partners and supporters who have contributed to making this project a reality, including Drexel University, the Philadelphia Water Department, the City of Philadelphia, the School District of Philadelphia, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Spark Therapeutics, Boeing, Alterra Property Group, David Adelman, Spring Point Partners, American Securities, Bradford Tobin, and the generous family and friends of Libby Tobin.

"The opening of the Alain Locke Schoolyard is truly a reason celebrate,"saidLaurie Thibodeau, Spark's Community Engagement Lead."This project is an example of what we can accomplish when non-profit organizations, local government, and industry come together to support our community, and we are excited to see the many benefits of this space enjoyed by all for many years to come."

"The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is thrilled to support the Community Schoolyard project at Alain Locke School through the Healthier Together Initiative. This revitalized schoolyard is a critical asset to the West Philadelphia community creating opportunities for students to play, families to gather, and neighbors to connect," said Vanesa Karamanian, M.D., Director of Healthier Together at CHOP. "Increasing access to safe, equitable and inclusive green spaces strengthens social relationships and supports children's physical and mental health and community wellbeing".

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 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $94 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.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.