Trust for Public Land’s Post

🌳✨ Transforming Schoolyards, Transforming Lives ✨🌳 At the Trust for Public Land, we believe in a future where every child has access to a safe, green space for play and learning. That's why we are proud to be a leading voice in the coalition advocating for a $1 billion investment in green schoolyards across California through the proposed education bond. 🚸🍃 👧🌞 Why Green Schoolyards? Health & Safety: Protects children from extreme heat and promotes physical well-being. Academic Performance: Natural settings enhance focus, creativity, and learning outcomes. Mental Health: Regular access to green spaces significantly improves children's mental health. Community Impact: Provides vital green open spaces for play and community activities, reducing urban heat and pollution. 📍 Let’s Reimagine Our Concrete Playgrounds: Imagine less asphalt and more nature in our schoolyards, where children can connect with the environment and thrive academically and socially. Our vision is ambitious but achievable—with your support. #1BforTheKids, #GreenSchoolyards, #EducationBond, #CALeg. @TrustForPublicLand Together, we can make green schoolyards a reality for every child in California. 🌱🏫

Growing County

🍁 As families consider moving to the charming town of Port Perry, there's one question on every parent's mind: "What are the schools like?" 📘 Navigating educational options can be overwhelming, but as a local real estate expert, I've gathered insights on Port Perry's schools that every parent must know. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making the best choice for your child's education in our beloved small town: 1. Research Area Schools: 🏫 Port Perry offers a diverse range of educational opportunities, from public schools with strong community ties to private institutions focusing on individualized learning. 2. Consider Special Programs: 🌟 Whether it’s arts, sports, or science, find a school that aligns with your child's interests and encourages their unique talents. 3. Assess the Commute: 🚗 Look into the distance from your potential new home to the school—Port Perry's charming streets are a bonus for those short, scenic walks or drives! 4. Community Involvement: 🤝 Schools in Port Perry thrive on community engagement. See how you can contribute to making your child's school experience richer. 5. Future Growth: 📈 With the town’s new developments, it’s wise to consider how this affects class sizes and facilities. A growing community means evolving educational resources. By understanding these key factors, you're already on a better path to finding a school where your child will flourish. After all, a family's move isn’t just about a house; it's about creating a home in a community that supports your lifestyle and values. Are you looking to make Port Perry your family's next chapter? Let’s discuss how we can find the perfect home in a neighborhood that meets all your educational needs. 🍃 #PortPerry #FamilyLiving #Education #RealEstate #Community

Interesting thoughts / arguments on putting all available public space to use for park and play purposes (with links to some existing joint-use park and school programs).

“Schoolyards often feel more like parking lots than playgrounds…but there is another way. Trust for Public Land has pioneered a Community Schoolyards model across the country that turns grim schoolyards into welcoming oases, teeming with nature, and sparking imaginative play.” Read on to explore how your district can transform its play spaces in this ASBJ article!

Equity, community and housing are some of the hot-button issues facing Alum Rock Union Elementary School District as they embark on their first long-range planning effort in 20 years. In an interview with #Catalyst, superintendent Hilaria Bauer offers a window into the moves that will shape the community’s future. https://bit.ly/41Ou6LC #ChangingLivesByDesign #longrangeplanning #masterplanning #k12 #schooldesign #designforeducation #facilityplanning

Primary students launched their acknowledgment of National Reconciliation Week by creating a Reconciliation Garden among the native trees in the Plenty Campus primary playground. The design was provided by Paul Briggs, Yorta Yorta Man, Plenty Campus Curriculum Leader-Mathematics and member of the School’s Reconciliation Committee. In designing the area, Mr Briggs explained, ‘circles tend to indicate a gathering place, often water holes or campfires, in this case the School. The four strong lines represent people coming into the School from our four campuses, and then, like the rings on a tree, the inner ring is the starting point; as they grow through the School, their community expands until they graduate and become guardians, mentors and elders of our wider community. The idea is that we are all part of the same community, supported and embraced by those that came before us, learning on our own journey to becoming the custodians of our land and our community.’ All primary students helped to construct the garden by placing a stone on the crafted design. Year 4 students were instrumental in spreading the sand, marking the design and will now be caretakers of the space. Through discussion, students were also encouraged to consider the purpose of the area. They recognise that they have established a space for meeting and reconciliation, a place to resolve conflict, share stories, and listen to one another. Above all else, we hope this permanent fixture in our playground will assist students in understanding the true meaning of reconciliation, a process of bringing people with differences together to truly understand each other. #youngpeopleofcharacter #learningtogether #NRW2024

Excellent reporting on the Gault Middle School legacy from the Weekly Volcano and my community hero Stephanie Smith, MSML. Views below are my own and not representative of my workplace. This school was once connected by a small stair case down the gulch to the First Creek Neighborhood, where homes bult on Puyallup Tribe Land are nestled between freeways, the casino, where the Portland Avenue Community Center has welcomed generations of families. Like First Creek, our neighborhood on the Eastside was pushed into a blindspot by the construction of I-5. Low enrollment in the 100-year old school was what caused it to close, after neighborhoods were mowed down in favor of highways, parking lots, tourism. Since then, the entire Eastside from Pacific to Portland has been an ongoing case study in #environmentaljustice where divestment, pollution, poverty, crime, have shaved decades off of people's lives. Highlights from the article "Spilling the Tea on Jawless Jerry and the Gault Middle School Saga": - The outdated sewer system in McKinley neighborhood was one of the killing points for redevelopment of the school into 500 units of housing + retail amenities for the neighborhood. - An underground storage tank full of heating fuel has never been properly drained since the property closed in 2009. -All the neighbors on one street segment have started experiencing neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's. -The property was just outside the boundary of eligibility for the multifamily tax exemption, another killing point in the redevelopment plan. -Surrounding neighbors stock up on Narcan in their adopted role of stewarding the property and all the issues that come with it. On the human element, Stephanie collected neighborhood stories on their experiences from the school. One writer talked about being a student who showed up soaking wet from walking to school in the rain. The staff were unable to find anything in the lost and found to fit him, so one took him to go shopping for dry clothes on her own dime. That's the spirit that inspired me when I moved to East Tacoma. A spirit of abundance, caring, and generosity to share whatever we have and only take what we need. We don't do this work under an organizational identity, or when we are paid to. We do it in quiet networks that exist on the way to the store, knocking on each others doors, mining social media posts, when children are in danger on our porches, in alleyway confessions, when people park to sleep in their cars, when night falls and our streets and parking lots are filled with people who have no where to go...we do it human to human. Every place has a story that no one knows but the people who are writing it every day through just living. #eastside #prettygrittycity All hail the underdogs, the resilient who just keep going and healing 💝 https://lnkd.in/g4VUVEBy

📣Innovation Alert I spend most of my time supporting superintendents and their academic and schools' teams. Regardless of the overall focus of the work, two topics come up in almost every conversation: what matters most to improve social and economic mobility for the most marginalized students and teacher recruitment and retention.  I am really excited to share that in my work with MIRIAM MONDRAGON, Superintendent of CRIPPLE CREEK-VICTOR SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. RE-1, we are working together on a solution to support economic and social mobility for the Cripple Creek-Victor Community and teacher recruitment and retention in service of improving academic outcomes. To understand the level of innovation involved, you must first understand the context. Cripple Creek-Victor School District RE-1 is a rural district with a total enrollment of approximately 400 students in preschool through twelfth grade. The median home price in Cripple Creek is $530K and the average rent is $2500 a month. The main industries in Cripple Creek-Victor are mining, hospitality/gaming, and education. There are limited options for affordable housing for families and for teachers. Miriam’s solution is taking on the housing shortage. She knows the students are talented and hungry to acquire durable skills including carpentry, plumbing, and design, maintenance, and repair of power systems. She also knows that to attract talent to staff the schools, there needs to be affordable housing available for teachers. So, Cripple Creek-Victor students will be learning how to construct homes from their teachers and folks working in the industry, on land acquired by the district, to provide affordable housing options for district employees. What does Phase 1 look like: ☑ Getting buy-in from community leaders. The mayors of Cripple Creek and Victor are both teachers in the district. ☑ Get Local Board approval. The Board President is leading the charge to find the land. ☑ Build a construction shop. ☑ Hire teachers with the experience needed to instruct the students. ☑ Acquire land. ☑ Get students interested in the course work. ☑ Find industry partners. Get permits to build on the land.  Break ground. The goal is to break ground in Spring/Summer 2025. Stay tuned for updates! If you are interested in learning more or want to support the effort, please reach out! #ruralschools #communityschools #mytntp

Ongoing capital improvement projects, like the one in Jamestown, offer a wealth of learning opportunities and benefits: Community Development and Engagement: These projects often reflect the priorities and needs of a community, offering insights into local decision-making processes. Understanding why and how such projects are initiated can highlight the importance of community engagement and the role of residents in shaping their environment. Economic Impact: Large-scale capital improvements can have significant economic implications, including job creation and local business support. Learning about these projects can shed light on economic development strategies and the ripple effects on a local and regional economy. Educational Value: For students and educators, these projects can serve as real-world examples to study subjects like civics, economics, engineering, and environmental science. They provide tangible case studies to apply theoretical knowledge. Environmental and Technological Insights: Capital improvement projects often incorporate the latest technologies and environmental considerations. Following these projects can provide insights into sustainable development practices, energy efficiency, and innovative construction techniques. Infrastructure Development: These projects are crucial for understanding the lifecycle of public infrastructure, including the need for regular updates and maintenance. They demonstrate the complexities involved in maintaining and improving essential public facilities like schools, roads, and utilities. Policy and Governance: Understanding the planning, funding, and execution of these projects can offer a deeper appreciation for public policy and governance. It highlights the challenges and intricacies of managing public funds and resources. Transparency and Accountability: Following these projects encourages transparency and accountability in public spending. It educates citizens on how their tax dollars are being used and the importance of oversight in public projects. Adaptation to Changing Needs: These projects often reflect how communities adapt to changing needs, such as growing populations, technological advancements, or evolving educational requirements. Observing these adaptations can provide insights into urban planning and community resilience. #CommunityDevelopment #EconomicGrowth #EducationalInnovation #SustainableInfrastructure #CivicEngagement #PublicPolicy #TransparencyInGovernance #UrbanPlanning #ResilientCommunities #TechInInfrastructure #EnvironmentalSustainability #InfrastructureInvestment #CivicResponsibility #AdaptiveCities #PublicWorksProgress