Back-to-school season is more than supply lists and first-day photos. It’s a moment to reimagine the environments where children grow, learn and thrive every day.
While classrooms are central to academic success, the outdoor spaces surrounding the school play an equally critical role. It’s where children release energy, test boundaries, build relationships and develop lifelong skills through play and exploration.
An intelligently designed schoolyard is more than swings and blacktop. It’s a purposeful space that supports physical activity, emotional well-being, inclusive learning and environmental resilience. With intentional design, a simple outdoor area becomes an extension of the school — a place that encourages movement, creativity and connection.
Why Schoolyards Matter
Children spend more time indoors and on screens than ever before. According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, they need multiple hours of unstructured outdoor play each day, yet many spend just 30 minutes outside.
Recess is one of the few opportunities for this kind of free play, but sometimes the space doesn’t provide the optimal experience for children of all ages and abilities.
Research shows that well-designed outdoor spaces support increased physical activity, improved focus and academic outcomes, lower stress levels and more positive social interactions. When schoolyards are built to engage all learners, they become vital to a child’s development — not just places to pass the time.
What Makes a Schoolyard Smart?
- Play Areas for All Types of Play
Children play in different ways depending on their personalities, interests, preferences and abilities. Smart schoolyards include areas for imaginative play, active games, nature exploration and social gathering. Exploratory play, quiet nooks and accessible spaces invite every child to participate in ways that feel meaningful to them.
- Greening and Natural Elements
Native trees, pollinator gardens and natural landscapes do more than beautify a space. They reduce urban heat, improve air and water quality, support biodiversity and create a calming environment for both learning and play. A 2021 study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that green space access improves both physical and mental health, particularly in children.
- Outdoor Learning
When learning moves outside, it can spark new levels of engagement. Outdoor classrooms and learning areas provide opportunities to connect lessons in science, literacy and art with the natural world. According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, students are often calmer and more focused in outdoor learning environments, with fewer behavioral concerns reported by educators.
- Smarter Surfaces
Surfacing is key to access and can help manage heat, reduce runoff and make play safer and more fun year-round. These improvements create more usable space that offers more opportunities for children of all abilities to move independently throughout the play areas.
- Community-Centered Design
The most successful outdoor spaces are created with input from the entire school community. Involving students, educators, caregivers and local partners fosters a sense of ownership and pride. This collaborative approach leads to more frequent use, stronger relationships and a feeling of accomplishment for all who participate.
Where to Start
Looking to improve your school’s outdoor space? Here are six ways to begin the process:
- Evaluate the existing space to identify gaps and opportunities.
- Invite students to share ideas through drawings, wish lists or models.
- Host a community event to gather input and build momentum.
- Research grant opportunities from local foundations and school wellness programs.
- Collaborate with the PTA, community leaders and businesses to build support.
- Contact your local Burke representative to help you design a space that meets all your needs.
Every child deserves a place to play that encourages movement, curiosity and connection. Smart design doesn’t always require a large budget — just a clear vision and thoughtful planning. As students head back to school this fall, let’s give them outdoor environments that excite, challenge and move them!
Contact your local Burke representative to start your thoughtfully designed schoolyard today!