Watch a Space to Grow Schoolyard Come to Life

January 13, 2017 | Written By: Healthy Schools Campaign

We were so excited to announce the opening of three new Space to Grow schoolyards in November. Now, we are happy to share an exciting time-lapse video of how a Space to Grow schoolyard gets built! Thanks to our partnership with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), we were able to document the action at Wadsworth Elementary as its new Space to Grow schoolyard came to life. The MWRD Public Affairs office generously put forth the time and equipment to help tell this amazing story.

Space to Grow is transforming Chicago schoolyards into vibrant spaces that support kids, communities and the environment. The program is co-managed by Healthy Schools Campaign and Openlands. Capital funding and expertise comes from MWRD, Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Department of Water Management. Each Space to Grow schoolyard gets a $1.5 million transformation, and every space uses special surfaces and design elements—such as rain gardens and permeable pavers—to capture rainwater and help reduce neighborhood flooding during the heaviest of storms. Wadsworth is one of three new schoolyards constructed this fall.

Check out the video below and read more about the program on the Space to Grow website.