The Trust for Public Land’s Oregon Rural Schoolyard Program is a statewide pilot project to renovate three outdated playgrounds throughout the state, into vibrant nature-rich Community Schoolyards. Community Schoolyards are for the students during the day and open to the public outside of school hours. The first two schoolyards are in Madras and Ontario, which are some of the most diverse rural communities in Oregon. Through a community-led iterative design process, both the Madras and Ontario Schoolyard Projects have final design concepts and TPL is in a fundraising phase for capital costs. Both of these areas of Oregon are primarily low-income, Title I schools, at great risk for wildfires and climate change, and counties with poor health outcomes. Creating safe engaging green spaces will ideally provide mental and physical health resources for the youth and greater community.

TPL is reaching out to communities throughout Oregon to help jumpstart fundraising efforts. Below are the go-fund-me links to both schoolyards. Please consider contributing to these fundraising efforts!

Madras Elementary Community Schoolyard Project: https://www.gofundme.com/f/madras-elementary-schoolyard-community-fundraiser

Alameda Elementary Community Schoolyard Project: https://www.gofundme.com/f/alameda-schoolyard-community-fundraiser

Please visit Oregon Rural Schoolyard Program for more information.