Since 2016, site has been collaborating with the Space to Grow program on schoolyard renovations throughout Chicago. As a joint collaboration between Chicago Public Schools,
the Healthy Schools Campaign, Openlands, MWRD, and the Chicago Department of Water Management, the Space to Grow program transforms schoolyards into beautiful and functional spaces to play, learn, garden and be outside. Each schoolyard design is tailored to the unique community it resides within while prioritizing physical activity, outdoor learning, and community engagement. A special emphasis is placed on green infrastructure to reduce neighborhood flooding and capture rainwater on site. Physical activities range from playground equipment to recreational fields, including multi-purpose fields, running tracks, basketball courts, and tennis courts. The schoolyards also serve as an extension of the classroom, with opportunities for learning and exploration, such as outdoor classrooms, native plants, and kitchen gardens.
Recent Space to Grow schoolyard projects by site include:
James Wadsworth STEM Elementary School (2016)
John W. Cook Elementary School (2018)
Fernwood Elementary School (2018)
Oliver S Westcott Elementary School (2019)
Arthur R. Ashe Elementary School (2019)
Ninos Heroes Elementary School (2019)
Daniel S. Wentworth Elementary School (2021)
Isabelle C. O’Keefe Elementary School (2021)
Robert Black Magnet Elementary School (2022)
Edward Coles Language Academy (2022)
