Project Description
Developing Green and Healthy Schoolyards by working with Milwaukee Public Schools and the non-profit Reflo on the conversion of schoolyards from all asphalt to a combination of outdoor classrooms, stormwater management, and safe play. Objectives: 1. Understand the needs of faculty and students. 2. Explore design options for curriculum enhancement. 3. Explore design options for stormwater management. 4. Evaluate existing schoolyard conditions. 5. Validate the design concepts. 6. Provide an innovative, feasible solution to serve the students, staff, and community. 7. Work with the Medical College of Wisconsin to evaluate health changes and impacts.
Tasks and Responsibilites
Staff and student surveys about preferences and concerns. Review of past schoolyard conversions to determine successes and lessons learned. Design concepts with outdoor classrooms, landscape and trees to reduce heat island effect, and variety of active and passive play elements. Public presentations to gather feedback. Documentation of new teaching opportunities, play concepts, and health benefits. CONTINUED IMPACT: This work will build on the past schoolyard conversions that are diverting 1more than 2,000,000 gallons of stormwater per rain event, have removed more than 13 acres of asphalt, and impacts more than 32,000 students and community members. Every project has at least one outdoor classroom and nature play elements. We want to document the health benefits now that several schoolyards have been transformed, informing the design of additional schools. Outdoor classrooms as theaters, year-round outdoor science projects, mindfulness reading areas, and large motor skills active play are creating positive experiences for the students and staff.
Desired Qualifications
None Listed.