Frequently Asked Questions
What the heck is a Community Schoolyard?
A Community Schoolyard is a nature-based recreation space that’s used by kids during the school day, then opened up to the community as a park during non-school hours. They’re safe, healthy places for kids and families to connect with each other and their neighbors, and they’re designed alongside community so that each one represents the unique characteristics that make each community special.
What benefits do Community Schoolyards bring?
Community Schoolyards are multi-benefit spaces designed to bring as many benefits to the community as possible. Our approach includes:
Creating and activating natural spaces through planting trees and native plants. Increased green space near schools correlates with higher test scores, improved physical and mental health, and better emotional regulation in kids.
A participatory design process that brings communities together to co-create these spaces. Not only is the finished schoolyard a place for community to gather, the process itself builds social cohesion and tighter networks across our neighborhoods.
Intentional design to encourage physical activity and connection to nature. These are more than just playground updates or new equipment—they’re healing spaces that inspire joy and connection.
How much does it cost and who’s paying for it?
We’re committed to planning, designing, and building each schoolyard at no cost to the school. We seek out funding from private foundations, public grants, and individual donors to help cover the costs. At our pilot school in Chiloquin, Oregon, partners raised around $1.4 million for construction, in addition to just over $12,000 that was raised through a community fundraiser.
We also want to share a special thanks to The Roundhouse Foundation, whose generous support is paying for our team to help make this project possible.
Have you done this before?
Yes! Our team collaborated with the Klamath Tribes and other local partners to build a community schoolyard in Chiloquin, OR. What began as an aspiration in the Summer of 2019 turned into the first-ever completed rural community schoolyard in 2022! You can read more about that experience here.
How were communities chosen?
To select our Community Schoolyard locations, researchers at the Trust for Public Land created a 16-point matrix that analyzed health, social equity, and climate resilience data to identify which rural Oregon communities could most benefit from a new community schoolyard. We then shared that list with trusted partners, funders, and leaders around the state to determine which communities seemed primed to partner with us. After reaching out to school leaders and local contacts, we got the “thumbs up” we needed to officially pursue implementing our projects in Ontario and Madras.
