On Saturday morning, I was thrilled to see The Washington Post highlight Trust for Public Land’s Community Schoolyards® initiative, John, so I wanted to make sure you saw it, too. |
You and I both know this work is essential. The article gets right to the core of why this work is so critical right now: |
Activists and parents have long worked, school by school, to turn asphalt playgrounds into islands of greenery. But as climate change sends temperatures soaring, the movement to replace heat-absorbing pavement around schools has gained urgency. School districts, cities and states are increasingly taking up the cause, spurred by research showing that asphalt play areas—many of which were installed decades ago—magnify the health risks of extreme heat. |
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Thanks to this national spotlight, others across the country will now better understand the need and opportunity presented by America’s schoolyards. These community-driven projects are critical to improving student education outcomes, public health, and climate resiliency. |
Aerial photos of the Bethune schoolyard in Philadelphia. Photo credit: OLIN; Evan McNaught |
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Joshua VanDavier
Membership Director
Trust for Public Land |
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