Context
Locally: Denver was at a turning point during the 1990s. The city’s schoolyards primarily consisted of asphalt and pea gravel, with few play structures and limited green space. Most did not meet ADA requirements, provided little protection from the sun, and had limited lighting. They were underutilized, and gravel-related accidents were common. Brink collaborated with Denver Public Schools
(DPS) to launch Learning Landscapes. Inspired by the schoolyard redevelopment work occurring in Boston and Houston, every DPS elementary schoolyard (96) was transformed, over a 15-year period, into attractive and safe multi-use resources that are tailored to the needs and desires of the local community. These schoolyards encourage outdoor play and learning and provide opportunities for social and physical activity. Nationally: During this 15-year period New York City, Toronto and San Francisco joined the district-wide schoolyard redevelopment movement. Denver and these five cities serve as national exemplars demonstrating the use of schoolyards as effective school and community resources and the significant financial and human resources needed to grow these small-scale efforts into system-wide change in urban cities.
