Space to Grow Celebrates Two New Schoolyards and a Decade of Transforming Chicago’s Landscape

Space to Grow partners recently celebrated the opening of two newly transformed green schoolyards in Chicago: Brown Community Academy in West Pullman and Spencer Technology Academy in Austin. These ribbon cutting ceremonies marked both a milestone for the school communities and a broader moment of reflection on a decade of schoolyard transformations across the city.

Brown Community Academy
In West Pullman, Brown Community Academy celebrated the grand opening of its new schoolyard, turning a lot once dominated by asphalt into a vibrant space that reflects the school community’s priorities. Before the renovation, the schoolyard had aging play equipment and lacked safe, usable space for students to play, learn, be physically active and connect to nature.

Now, students and staff have access to a new athletic field, a running track, an outdoor classroom and edible and rain gardens. A blue ribbon design element, stretching across the play surface and into the courtyard, pays tribute to the nearby Little Calumet River, connecting the space to its local environment, history and the African American Heritage Water Trail.

”Our work together is transforming schoolyards across Chicago into welcoming outdoor spaces that anchor schools as premier neighborhood assets,” said Michael Davidson, President and CEO of Openlands. “Just look at this schoolyard! It’s a shining example of what’s possible and a model for the rest of the country.”

In addition to supporting recreation and learning, the schoolyard is designed to manage over 300,000 gallons of stormwater on-site at a given time, helping to reduce flooding in the neighborhood, an increasingly urgent concern as climate change brings more frequent and intense rainfall to Chicago.

Spencer Technology Academy
The Austin community gathered to celebrate their Space to Grow ribbon-cutting at Spencer Technology Academy. Previously dominated by cracked asphalt and a limited play space, Spencer’s schoolyard now offers an engaging and inclusive environment that supports student expression and outdoor play.

The new design reflects feedback from the school community, which prioritized music and volleyball. Today, the schoolyard features a multi-sport court, musical play equipment and a nature play space – providing students more ways to learn, move, explore and connect with the outdoors.

“This is our 36th Space to Grow schoolyard, and it’s a beautiful example of what can happen when community voice guides design,” said Jennifer Tani, President and CEO of Healthy Schools Campaign. “The students, staff, parents and neighbors played a key role in shaping this space.”

Beyond play, the schoolyard is built to handle over 190,000 gallons of stormwater during a given rainstorm, helping to prevent street and basement flooding and making the neighborhood more resilient in the face of climate-driven storms. 

Space to Grow schoolyards are  also open to the community for use and enjoyment outside of school hours, including weekends and school breaks, serving as a shared neighborhood asset.

A Decade of Impact and a Model for the Nation
The celebrations at Spencer and Brown coincide with the Space to Grow: A Decade of Transforming Chicago Schoolyards and Communities report release, celebrating and reflecting on 10-years of impact. Since 2014, Space to Grow has transformed 36 schoolyards across Chicago into multifunctional spaces that support health and wellness, outdoor learning, connection to nature, active play and community engagement – all while building climate resilience – and in neighborhoods historically excluded from such investment and infrastructure. 

The program is a partnership co-founded by Healthy Schools Campaign and Openlands with capital funds and leadership from Chicago Public Schools, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, Chicago Department of Water Management and Chicago Department of Environment.

Learn more about Space to Grow and explore the impact report here.