Marian Anderson Neighborhood Academy (formerly Chester Arthur Schoolyard)

About

This project transformed the urban schoolyard of the Marian Anderson Neighborhood Academy into an inviting and vibrant green space for the school and surrounding community. Located in the densely populated Graduate Hospital neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this public K-8 school serves a diverse population of students, with approximately 48% low-income families. Prior to renovation, the schoolyard was almost entirely covered with asphalt and offered few options for physical or intellectual stimulation for students. The renovation dramatically increased opportunities for play and learning and the schoolyard is now a popular neighborhood gathering place.

Categories Place Children's Gardens Parks & Play Spaces Recreation School Landscape Performance Series

Project Details

Description

Formerly an asphalt-covered space that offered little to engage youth, the renovated schoolyard at the Marian Anderson Neighborhood Academy is now an inviting green space for students and community members that elevates hands-on learning, physical activity, and connection to the natural world. The renovated space includes edible plantings, habitat for a variety of wildlife, a rain garden, and an artificial turf berm that provides amphitheater seating for events. A climbing dome and multi-use court encourage physical activity — of paramount importance in a neighborhood with a 20.7% rate of childhood obesity. The site also includes space to incorporate the school’s STEM curriculum and an art board for outdoor art classes.

The renovation boosted the area in vegetation from 1.5% to 20.7%, an increase of 4,850 s.f., while maintaining the necessary parking. This not only increased the opportunities for education and recreation, but also dramatically decreased the stormwater runoff entering Philadelphia’s combined sewer system. Perimeter plantings act as a buffer between the schoolyard and the busy street, offering an attractive visual barrier and dampening noise. With more space for engaging with nature as well as for both structured and unstructured play, the renovation has anecdotally reduced fighting among the children at recess.

Project Goals

Collaborate with the nonprofit Marian Anderson Neighborhood Academy Supporters/MANAS (formerly the Friends of Chester Arthur) to design a schoolyard renovation that supports current and future staff, teachers, students, and parents in their effort to create and maintain a playful, engaging and safe environment for all children who attend the school.
Increase physical activity of students by offering a range of opportunities for structured and unstructured play.
Support the school’s fledgling STEM curriculum by incorporating features that foster outdoor, interactive, hands-on learning for all ages.
Create an inviting, ecologically robust space with features that encourage usage by students and community members, and provide passive educational opportunities.
Implement green stormwater infrastructure, primarily with surface expression of stormwater management, and create habitat for native plants, birds and insects.
Mitigate urban heat island through increased tree canopy and reduction of impervious pavement.

Reprinted from the original LAF LPS case study.

Social Benefits

Reduces average noise levels from 87 decibels to 81.5 decibels, achieving a clearly noticeable change.
Increases site usage by 128% during school hours and increases community use of the site after school and on weekends by 157%.
Doubles physical activity levels in students for both boys and girls. Increases vigorous activity for girls by 160% and boys by 80%.

Reprinted from the original LAF LPS case study.

Contact SALT Design Studio info@saltdesigns.com SALT Design Studio Marian Anderson Neighborhood Academy

Construction Details

Landscape Architect and Prime Consultant
SALT Design Studio

Contractors
Stormwater Engineer: University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center
Civil Engineer: Cornerstone Consulting
Education Consultant: The College of New Jersey – Stem Center
General Contractor: Brightline Construction

Total Cost
$1M

Funders & Supporters
Philadelphia Water Department (Stormwater Grant)
William Penn Foundation (Grant)
School Community - numerous individual donations from families

Amenities

Outdoor Amphitheater & Gathering Space
Rain Garden & Water Wheel
Pavement Paint Games including an Analemmatic Sundial
Native Gardens
Porous Paving Parking Lot with adjacent Water Play Wall
Outdoor Geo-Classroom (features igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks all found in PA)
Play Equipment
Basketball Court
Seating (multiple options)

Awards

Winner: 2018 Honor Award from PA-DE Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
Finalist: 2017 Groundbreaker Award from Green Building United
Nominee: 2017 Business Innovation Award from SustainPHL

An aerial view of the schoolyard showing people gathered along a curved path and berm around a basketball hoop where children are playing.

A smiling child jumps while another child sits on a boulder along a curved path surrounded by plants and trees.

A classroom-sized group of young children sit on an artificial turf-covered berm facing toward an adult.

A curved path is surrounded by grasses, perennials, and shrubs. On the right is a canopy structure with cars parked underneath.

An adult and several children play basketball. In the background, a child walks along a curved path to a neighborhood street.

Children play on the climber dome. In the foreground are gardens filled with perennial plants and shrubs.

A group of youth play with a football while other children sit on the berm. Behind them, kids play on the climber dome. The school building in the background is painted with bright colors and artwork.

A child plays at the entrance to a sunken garden that is filled with vegetation. A building in the background is painted with colorful and playful artwork.

Children sit on boulders in front of decorative fence with parking area in background.

A woman kneels with a young child on the top of the berm while another child rides a scooter down the slope of the berm.

A child and adult walk along a curved path that is surrounded by trees and perennial gardens, with a fence on the right.

A young child with a toy in hand walks along a path planted on both sides with native grasses and other greenery.

Black-and-white photo has the planted areas highlighted in green. Callouts list the locations of trees and gardens.

Recent Case Studies

Place

Marian Anderson Neighborhood Academy (formerly Chester Arthur Schoolyard)

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