Franklin Elementary Community Schoolyard

Parks are essential to our health and well-being, but far too often, they can be inaccessible and unwelcoming, especially in lower income or communities of color. At Trust for Public Land, we’re working to close the outdoor equity gap by putting awesome green space where it’s needed most, and what better way to close this gap than to start where students and families already are—school campuses.

Our Minnesota Community Schoolyards® program transforms asphalt schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that improve the daily lives of students, educators, and the surrounding community. These spaces are designed with community at their cores, helping address health needs, park equity, and the effects of climate change like heat and flooding. And our work at Franklin Elementary is no exception.

We’re partnering with students, teachers, and administrators at Franklin Elementary to transform their unused turf and outdated playground equipment into a vibrant green space and community garden that promotes play, outdoor learning, and fun for nearly 700 kindergarten through 5th grade students. Located in southeast Rochester, MN, the city doesn’t have enough park space to meet its growing population and this new Community Schoolyard will be open and available to the whole community even after school hours. It will also reflect the diverse student body and surrounding community, ensuring everyone feels welcome and encouraging the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts and environmental advocates to unlock their passions.

Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).