2026 Reports

Philadelphia’s Community Green Schoolyards Program: Using Nature-based Solutions to Improve Climate Resilience

Class-Maldonado, Elizabeth; Schottland, Taj; Sannino, Kari

Philadelphia's Community Green Schoolyards® initiative, led by the Trust for Public Land (TPL) in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), offers a replicable model for deploying nature-based solutions to build climate resilience in historically marginalized urban communities. In a city grappling with rising temperatures, intensifying storms, and deep structural inequities, the program transforms heat-absorbing asphalt schoolyards into vibrant, green, multifunctional spaces. These sites mitigate climate risks—such as extreme heat and flooding—while improving community health, educational outcomes, and social cohesion. Since 2014, TPL and its partners have integrated green infrastructure—like rain gardens, shade trees, and subsurface stormwater systems—into 15 schoolyards, capturing over 12.5 million gallons of stormwater annually. These projects directly benefit over 7,000 students (95% of whom are students of color and from low-income households) and serve an additional 200,000 residents within a 10-minute walk. Site selection prioritizes social and environmental vulnerability, and design is co-led by students and community partners to ensure meaningful, lasting impact. The program supports Philadelphia's Long-Term Control Plan to reduce combined sewer overflows and aligns with the City's broader climate goals, demonstrating the power of integrated, community-based planning. Lessons learned include the importance of ensuring schoolyards function as year-round, neighborhood-wide resilience assets. Now scaling nationally through partnerships in 23 states across the U.S., this Community Schoolyards® program showcases a scalable, equity-first strategy to deliver nature-based solutions where they're needed most—underscoring the critical role of public green space in climate adaptation, education, and justice.

Keywords: community schoolyards; nature-based solutions; green infrastructure