Sustain Impact

The Green Schoolyards District Design Guidelines is a product of over a year-long collaboration with a group of cross-sector leaders working towards systemic change in the way we think about and use the outdoor spaces surrounding a school. This publication is intended to support and inspire school district staff in creating their own school design guidelines – tailored to meet the needs of your region and community and endorsed by your district. Our goal is that your school district creates procedures that meet the needs of your students and staff, align with your district priorities, and benefit members of all ages in your community. The content of this publication was written with input from experts in the field, including academics, professional landscape designers, and district-level staff from across the country.

This resource outlines how to develop partnerships between city government and a group of community organizations in order to maximize resources and achieve shared goals to advance children and nature connections.

This resource helps engage cities within a region or state to work collaboratively at the state level to expand access to high-quality green spaces and increase policies and programs that support children and nature connections.

The summer of 2020 was one of social distancing and shuttered public spaces due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Minnesota’s capital city of Saint Paul was also swept up in the civil unrest following the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by police in the neighboring city of Minneapolis. Saint Paul residents, especially Black, Indigenous and People of Color, found it challenging to find places where they felt safe to gather and connect—at a time when they needed it most.

This agreement from Austin, TX is an example of how a school district and a city park department can specifies maintenance responsibilities for shared properties.

Watch a recording of C&NN, NLC, City Parks Alliance, National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) to learn how city leaders from Houston and Seattle navigate the provision of nature connections during a time of physical distancing.

This video from the Cities Connecting Children to Nature Initiative provides an overview of how cities can incorporate nature play spaces.

Watch this short video about the national CCCN initiative and three of the 18 innovative cities working towards a vision where every child in every city has regular access to nature.

In this webinar, The Corps Network and Louisville Parks and Recreation share ways that cities and corps employ youth in service, facilitation of local nature experiences, and as role models and nature advocates.

Wintermission Leadville is led locally by the City of Leadville, Get Outdoors Leadville!, and Lake County Recreation Department, with key support from many local partner organizations and community members.

A tool to support planning for long-term success of partnerships, policies and programs that promote equity in nature access for children

Insights from the Cities Connecting Children to Nature initiative guiding city leaders on strategies for equitable access to nature for children.