Chicago Partnership Builds Healthy Playgrounds, Captures Storm Water

The City of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), Openlands and Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) partnership known as "Space to Grow" received a New Champions award from the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance (NPAPA). This organization recognizes the efforts of hundreds of organizations working to promote opportunities for physical activity among people in various settings, physical abilities and ages.

The partnership also received the Sustainability award from the Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management (IAFSM), which recognizes excellence in storm water management across the state of Illinois. Last fall, Space to Grow won a Silver Ribbon Award from Friends of the Chicago River for its approach to river-sensitive design and implementation.

Space to Grow is a public-private partnership that transforms Chicago schoolyards into outdoor spaces that encourage physical activity, outdoor learning and community engagement, while addressing broader environmental issues, including storm water management and water conservation. In addition to providing community members in low-income neighborhoods with safe outdoor spaces to play and be active, Space to Grow schoolyards help Chicago Public Schools meet its daily recess and physical education requirements for elementary schools.

On Feb. 24, HSC President and CEO Rochelle Davis accepted the Champions Award on behalf of Space to Grow at NPAPA's fourth annual national congress in Washington, D.C.

"It's an incredible honor for Space to Grow to be recognized nationally for the positive impact the program has had in transforming Chicago schoolyards into much-needed outdoor spaces for children and their families to play and be active," Davis said.

MWRD President Mariyana Spyropoulos said that "not only do school children benefit from the improved outdoor play areas, but the community benefits from the increased capacity of the schoolyard to capture water which prevents localized flooding. This is a multi-faceted partnership, and I hope other cities and organizations are inspired to work together in such a fashion to improve their schools and communities."

Six more schools are slated for renovations this year: Cather Elementary, Corkery Elementary, Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy, Orozco Academy, Wadsworth Elementary and Westcott Elementary.

Source: MWRD