Park advocates picked the remaining four Atlanta schools chosen for an outdoor makeover that will transform playgrounds and green spaces into spots neighborhood residents also can enjoy.
The Trust for Public Land launched the Atlanta Community Schoolyards project in 2019. The goal is to open up and redesign the properties so they serve students during the school day and the surrounding community can use the spaces when classes aren’t in session.
Ten schools are part of the initial phase, and the organization recently announced the final four schools selected to participate. They are: Scott Elementary School in northwest Atlanta, Continental Colony Elementary School in southwest Atlanta, Price Middle School in southeast Atlanta and Toomer Elementary School in the Kirkwood neighborhood.
In the coming months, students at those schools will participate in design sessions to dream up new ways to use and improve their schoolyards. Construction work is expected to be finished by next summer.
The 10-park project started at Dobbs and Kimberly elementary schools and work at those two sites is now finished.
Four other schools chosen for the project in 2020 are in various stages. Design work will continue this fall at Centennial Academy, with a plan to start construction next spring. Construction is expected to begin by December at Harper-Archer Elementary School.
Renovations are underway at Miles and Sarah Smith elementary schools. On Saturday, volunteers put up new playground equipment and made other improvements at Sarah Smith.
The Trust for Public Land expects to spend $2 million renovating the 10 schoolyards, with donations coming from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Delta Air Lines and other supporters.
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