Last Spring posed an extra challenge for our gardens and trees, a record breaking drought. As this summer approaches, we encourage you to use our annual mini-grant to make a summer plan. This can include a shared google doc, an old fashioned clip board for stewards to sign up to water, a chat with your…
Month: May 2025
Welcome Katie!
Welcome TPL’s newest member Katie Lienert, our Part-Time Community Outreach Coordinator in New York: Hi there, reader! I’m thrilled to share that I’ve recently started a new chapter as the Community Outreach Coordinator at Trust for Public Land! In this role, I’ll be connecting with schools and local communities across New York to support the…
Spring Deliveries & Planting
We’ve been busy hauling plants around to give the raised beds in our schoolyards a little boost for Spring! It’s a great way to check in, connect kids to their green spaces, and start the season off right. I loved seeing these middle school students from MS 354 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn work together with…
Community Resource Fair
We love seeing schools and Community Based Organizations utilize their schoolyards for big events like PS 503/506’s Community Resource Fair co-led by the Center for Family Life. We were happy to attend and lead some planting with their Green Team! Observe how they wear their shirts with pride! Check out their bright and inclusive outreach…
Teaching With Green Roofs
Looking for engaging ways to teach students about climate, water, and green infrastructure? Green Roofs NYC offers a free set of hands-on, standards-aligned lessons for all grade levels. These lessons are a great way to use your schoolyard as a living lab, especially if your site features one of our green roof gazebos. In the…
15th Annual Stewardship Workshop and Mini-Grant
We had a sunny stewardship workshop last week in PS 38’s lush garden and schoolyard. We heard from the school’s parent coordinator on how to involve the whole community in stewardship, we moved our bodies with The Movement Creative to remind ourselves how to play, and brainstormed ideas for our schoolyard mini-grant. I also demo’d…
Meet our Partner: PeacePlayers
We’re excited to spotlight one of our inspiring partners, PeacePlayers, an organization that uses the power of basketball to connect young people, build leadership skills, and promote peace. PeacePlayers runs free after-school programs, leadership development sessions, and one-off events like basketball clinics growing outreach across NYC’s boroughs. We first connected with PeacePlayers through our partner,…
Community Outreach via your Schoolyard Fence
Are you making the most of your schoolyard fence? Aside from our rules, funder, and environmental education signs, your fence can serve as a way to speak to your neighbors! Here are some ways our TPL schoolyards have made use of some fence signage. Fundraiser! Encourage the community to support schoolyard events and stewardship. Organize:…