No one ever tires of hearing the song, Eye of the Tiger, especially Philadelphians. When the Taggart Elementary School chorus serenaded the crowd at the schoolyard opening ceremony, with songs themed to their mascot, the tiger, we couldn?t help but sing along. The long path toward realizing a green schoolyard began with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) in 2014, facilitating a participatory design program with the school?s students. TPL then hired TEND and their design team partners, Duffield Associates, Playcare, and Becker & Frondorf to bring the student?s inspired vision to reality. After closing the schoolyard for construction all summer and the beginning of the fall term, it reopened this November to the students and community with great excitement and jubilation. What was once only asphalt is now a meaningful school campus for the students and the surrounding community supporting play, active recreation, outdoor learning, socializing and cultural activities. A few links to what project partners and others are saying about the transformation:?
The kids love their new schoolyard at Taggart Elementary School in Philly! Thanks @PHLschools @PhillyH2O @PhilaParkandRec & @WilliamPennFdn pic.twitter.com/WDIFbzHgm0
— TrustforPublicLand (@tpl_org) November 1, 2016
Congrats to @PHLSchools @tpl_org on #greening Taggart School + building a #raingarden w/ our #stormwater grants to protect #DelawareRiver! pic.twitter.com/qn0tS0xunj
— Philadelphia Water (@PhillyH2O) November 1, 2016
This whole area used to be asphalt. Now it's a fun play area @ Taggart that also manages stormwater to keep our environment healthy. #PHLed pic.twitter.com/OV7vC8I4RG
— Philadelphia Schools (@PHLschools) November 1, 2016
.@SDPHite and the Taggart Tiger cut the ribbon on the #TaggartPlayground! Thanks @tpl_org, @PhillyH2O, @PhilaParkandRec & @WilliamPennFdn. pic.twitter.com/iZ1BQHxOaz
— Philadelphia Schools (@PHLschools) November 1, 2016
This new turf is pretty comfy at #TaggartPlayground. #PHLed pic.twitter.com/g457KPQPrw
— Philadelphia Schools (@PHLschools) November 1, 2016
All smiles for the new #TaggartPlayground! ???? #PHLed @PHLschoolOps @tpl_org pic.twitter.com/PkR6kxXTnT
— Philadelphia Schools (@PHLschools) November 1, 2016
The Taggart Tigers are here to cut the ribbon on the school's environmentally friendly playground! #PHLed @PHLschoolOps @tpl_org pic.twitter.com/E2Lj6HlPSH
— Philadelphia Schools (@PHLschools) November 1, 2016