Trust for Public Land Unveils New Community Schoolyard at Brooklyn Center Elementary STEAM School: A Space for Play, Learning, and Connection

Trust for Public Land (TPL), Brooklyn Center Community Schools, and City of Brooklyn Center are excited to announce the grand opening of the newly designed inclusive playground, student-designed mural, and native plant gardens at Brooklyn Center Elementary STEAM School. This vibrant and inclusive space will provide students and community members with a safe, engaging environment to play, learn, and connect.

TPL officially launched the Minnesota Community Schoolyards ™ program last year, working to transform schoolyards into vibrant green spaces and social hubs that serve students and residents, including after school hours. With this opening, TPL is celebrating the first milestone in the schoolyard transformation—one of the first Community Schoolyards in the state.

“When schoolyard spaces like Brooklyn Center are open to the public, it helps students, families, and the community stay active and healthy by providing quality, close-to-home places to play and gather,” said Sophie Vorhoff, Minnesota State Director at Trust for Public Land. “TPL is proud to launch our Minnesota Community Schoolyard Program here in Brooklyn Center and we look forward to creating more parks and outdoor spaces that improve the quality of life for everyone.”

These improvements to Brooklyn Center Elementary will help improve the health, equity, and climate outcomes for over 3,000 people who live within a 10-minute walk of the schoolyard. As TPL continues to work with more school districts across the state—and generous partners like SWA Group, which provided pro bono design services for this schoolyard, Brooklyn Center Elementary STEAM Schoolyard will serve as a model for others looking to create an incredible green space for students and neighbors alike.

Brooklyn Center Elementary STEAM serves Minnesota’s most diverse city, embracing a community-centered approach. TPL identified the school as 89th in need in an assessment of all 2,500 Minnesota schools based on equity, health, climate, and park access criteria.

“Having these features in the park will not only meet the health and recreational needs of Brooklyn Center but will ensure the Community Schoolyard® becomes a cornerstone asset for our community that promotes economic growth and equitable development,” said Brooklyn Center City Manager Dr. Reggie Edwards.

The concept plan was designed by students alongside TPL staff and design professionals as part of classroom curriculum. In the process, they learned about climate resilient design, green infrastructure, and alternative career pathways.

“It has been a dream to partner with TPL on this project,” said Dr. Carly Baker, Superintendent of Brooklyn Center Community Schools. “I can tell you that no community is more ready or deserving of the proposed schoolyard enhancements than ours. These new amenities will be loved by each of our community partners and will support our current and future STEAM-based programming.”

The community schoolyard will be open to the public during non-school hours, offering a valuable resource for local families and community groups. This initiative reflects TPL’s belief that public spaces should serve as inclusive, multifunctional hubs for communities. This project was made possible through support from State of Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Hennepin County, the Board of Water and Soil Resources Lawns to Legumes Program, Three Rivers Park District, LifeTime Foundation, LL Bean, and Macy’s.

This project is a cornerstone of TPL’s mission to ensure that everyone has access to green spaces, regardless of where they live. The Brooklyn Center schoolyard transformation is part of TPL’s larger Community Schoolyards initiative and to launch the program in Minnesota. This program aims to create welcoming outdoor spaces at schools throughout the state, enhancing educational opportunities and community well-being.

About Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.