Children, no matter where they live, deserve the opportunity to be surrounded by nature and greenery. They should have access to the outdoors, a source of renewal and inspiration for so many people. Recent research shows that greenery – even views from classroom windows – can help to:

• Engage, lengthen, and sharpen attention span
• Reduce agitation and disengaged behavior
• Ignite a child’s curiosity and overall sense of wonderment
• Promote an understanding of the way natural systems work

All of these benefits can have a positive impact on learning.

Studies have found that children spend 20 to 25 percent of their school time in the schoolyard, the equivalent of 257 days (almost a whole year of their lives!) by the end of sixth grade. It is crucial to increase the opportunities for children to experience the benefits of a greener landscape.

In order to bring these benefits to the Pittsburgh Public School students, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has launched the School Greening Initiative. Since 1996, the Conservancy has worked with the Grable Foundation on school greening projects, and it is with their extraordinary support that the new School Grounds Greening Initiative came into being. Inspired by the work of Richard Louv, the Conservancy approached the Pittsburgh School Board with a new concept that would include working directly with school grounds caretaking staff to add sustainable, low-maintenance greenery to school properties, to enhance the experiences of students and the adjacent neighborhoods. In 2008, Superintendent Mark Roosevelt endorsed the proposed project and the Grable Foundation awarded a $1.5 million grant to the Conservancy to support a four-year effort that will increase the green components of 66 school grounds.

This project will add greenery of several types on all 66 active school properties by 2011. Some examples of green additions include raised beds to support ongoing school projects, quiet spaces with plants and seating for teachers and students, “green” fences and walls enhanced with vegetation, additional trees, and active play spaces with natural surfaces. Each school’s grounds will present unique opportunities to add green features based on the school’s preexisting landscape. Some schools will already have grass, trees, and open space with which to work. Other school grounds are primarily asphalt or cement-covered surfaces. Some have significant lengths of fencing, slopes, wet areas, or areas dominated by shade or light. The greening project will consider adding types of greenery that will complement and enhance the existing school landscape.

The ultimate goal of the initiative is to provide a greener environment that the schools themselves can maintain with the help of students, teachers, and engaged community members – to foster not only a stronger relationship between the students and nature, but also to create a deeper connection to the surrounding community.

As of June 2009, nearly all of the Pittsburgh Public School campuses have been surveyed and 13 projects have been completed. We are in the planning stages with 18 schools for fall 2009 implementation, and are meeting with the principals and staff of each of these schools to develop site plans. A special thanks to Stallard Garden Center who helped install the greening projects in fall 2008 and Brickman Group who helped to install 6 of the 12 projects that took place in spring 2009.

For more information regarding this exciting project, please contact David Wilson, School Grounds Greening Program Coordinator.

Read about the School Greening Initiative in Pop City.