Maxfield Elementary Community Schoolyard

St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood was the center of the Twin Cities’ Black community for much of the 20th century. The neighborhood bustled with promise and economic stability, but the planning of I-94 ripped through the heart of the neighborhood, displacing nearly 650 families, Black businesses, and community-loved spaces. Now, Trust for Public Land is working with community partners and leaders to reinvigorate Rondo’s outdoor spaces to better serve the community’s current needs—starting with green spaces hiding in plain sight: schoolyards. 

Through our Community Schoolyards™ program, we’re transforming schoolyards into vibrant green spaces and social hubs that serve students and residents after school hours. When outdoor spaces are made accessible to surrounding neighborhoods, it helps students, families, and residents remain active and healthy by providing a quality, close-to-home park. At Maxfield Elementary School, we’re working with students, community leaders, the St. Paul Public School District, and the American Society of Landscape Architects to maximize their schoolyard’s potential. Together, we’re bringing their ideas to life and once complete, Maxfield Elementary Community Schoolyard will connect 6,500 people that live within a 10-minute walk to an awesome green space for everyone to enjoy. 

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).