What is a Green Schoolyard?

Many schools in Los Angeles are covered in asphalt with little to no shade for students during recess or after school. Schools are often the hottest location in every neighborhood, measuring the same temperature as parking lots and freeways. These treeless, hot environments exacerbate drought, and flooding, and provide no habitat for local and migrating pollinators. What if instead of schools being a drain on our city, they were beneficial?

The solution to making schools a more habitable place to be is to convert outdoor spaces into cool, shady, oases. This can be achieved by replacing asphalt with permeable surfaces where water can soak into the ground, planting trees that provide shade, clean the air, and capture water, and having a diverse selection of plants that provide habitat and food for pollinators.

This illustration visualizes how a green schoolyard can be a living system that provides dynamic learning and play opportunities while creating reciprocal benefits for the school community and the natural world. A green schoolyard should prioritize equity, environmental justice, and climate resilience in school selection and design approaches.

The Multiple Benefits of Green Schoolyards