On September 28, the Trust for Public Land (TPL), in partnership with New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the School Construction Authority, and local partners, celebrated the ribbon cutting of a new community schoolyard at P.S. 380 John Wayne Elementary that is co-located with P141K.
“The beautiful new P.S. 380 community schoolyard will be just that place for our students and neighbors in South Williamsburg and will help address chronic flooding in the neighborhood,” said NYC Council Member Lincoln Restler. “I’m grateful to Trust for Public Land, the team at P.S. 380, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the School Construction Authority for their partnership in designing and constructing this innovative and inclusive play space and creating a healthy, climate-resilient green school yard for everyone to enjoy.”
The new schoolyard will serve an estimated 53,336 residents within a 10-minute walk. The schoolyard includes accessible features and play opportunities designed to support students with a range of physical and sensory abilities. Key inclusive features include sensory and music panels, an accessible ramp system, and a sensory cove climber that allows for a quiet retreat space that doubles as a climbing element.
“By creating an outdoor space that is accessible and welcoming to children of all abilities, we’re helping ensure that every student has the opportunity to experience the health, joy, and connection that come from spending time outside—while creating a greener, more climate-resilient space for the entire community,” said Mary Alice Lee, New York City playgrounds program director for TPL.
The redesigned schoolyard increases permeability by 38.2%, with the number of trees increasing from 2 existing trees to 40 planted trees. The site will have 22% shade cover at planting, increasing to 47% in the next 10 years.
This playground’s design is the culmination of input from students, educators, families, and community members.
