Developed in 1997 by the Trust for Public Land, the NYC Playground Program develops new community playgrounds for schools and neighborhoods under served by existing parks. Through a 10-week participatory design process, students become landscape designers, learning the importance of site analysis, measuring their site, looking at sun angles and thinking about neighborhood influences on their design. Key components of sustainable design provide the basis for the development of these projects. The final designs address sustainability, promote water efficiency, reuse and incorporate renewable materials and embrace plant life while providing a wide variety of recreational and educational amenities.
