Tennessee Community Schoolyards

Our Tennessee Community Schoolyards program is reimagining empty schoolyards into modern parks where children and community members can gather, play, explore, and soak up the benefits of time spent outside. In far too many communities across the state, especially in lower income and communities of color, access to the outdoors is out of reach. In fact, two out of three Tennessee residents don’t have a park within a 10-minute walk of home.

We’re working to change that by bringing nature closer to home—one schoolyard at a time.

We have demonstrated success in partnership with school districts, community-based organizations, and other local partners to renovate nearly 350 schoolyards in 23 states across the country. Now, it’s time for Tennesseans to enjoy the benefits these schoolyards can bring.

We’re partnering with Hamilton County School District, the City of Chattanooga’s Department of Parks and Outdoors, and other nonprofit partners on three pilot schoolyards: East Side Elementary, Clifton Hills Elementary, and Hardy Elementary. Together, we’ll rip out asphalt in favor of grass, gardens, and trees. We’ll install fun play equipment and climate-smart features to keep the entire neighborhood cool and dry. We’ll build outdoor classrooms so students and teachers can immerse themselves in nature education. And these spaces will be open to the public even after school hours.

By working closely with students, teachers and neighbors, we’re building spaces that put the community at their cores. The result? A fun green space that meets the needs of the entire neighborhood and connects more people to the joys and benefits of the outdoors.