School Grounds

When thoughtfully designed, school grounds have the potential to become a vital extension of the learning environment, supporting student health, deepening educational experience, and strengthening ties between schools and the communities they serve.

School grounds can function as outdoor classrooms: gardens, outdoor science labs, natural play areas, and environmental installations offer hands-on learning opportunities that reinforce curriculum, build environmental literacy, and connect students to the natural world. Well-designed outdoor spaces also support physical activity, reduce stress, and provide opportunities for the kind of unstructured social interaction that contributes to student wellbeing in ways that indoor environments cannot fully replicate.

Green schoolyards that feature sustainable landscaping and design, including native plantings, permeable surfaces, shade structures, and stormwater management features, contribute to climate resilience and energy efficiency while modeling environmental stewardship for students and communities. Accessible and inclusive outdoor spaces ensure that all students, including those with disabilities, can participate fully in the benefits that well-designed grounds provide. And school grounds that are attractive, safe, and welcoming strengthen the relationship between schools and the neighborhoods they serve, creating spaces where families and community members feel invited.

Treating school grounds as an integral part of facility planning, rather than an afterthought to building construction and renovation, is an investment in the full range of outcomes that school facilities are meant to support.