A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held May 30, 2025, at Spencer Elementary Technology Academy, 214 N. Lavergne Ave., in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, to celebrate the completion of a major schoolyard transformation that will help manage stormwater, promote outdoor learning, and provide new recreational spaces for students and the community.

Thanks to the Space to Grow™ program, the once mostly asphalt-covered yard has been redesigned into a vibrant, multi-functional green space. The new schoolyard includes a running track and artificial turf field, volleyball and basketball courts, porous playground surfaces, a nature play area, rain gardens, an outdoor classroom, and permeable paver walkways. These features allow the schoolyard to capture and hold up to 190,872 gallons of stormwater during each rain event, reducing neighborhood flooding and improving water quality.

“This transformation is a shining example of what’s possible when agencies come together with the community in mind,” said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. “We’re proud to support projects that not only build climate resilience to assist with stormwater management but also promote water conservation and the benefits of green infrastructure.”

The improvements at Spencer Academy are part of a broader effort to use green infrastructure to manage stormwater while creating healthy and inspiring places for students to learn and play. The Space to Grow program not only enhances schoolyards, but also serves as a living classroom, teaching students the value of sustainability and environmental stewardship.

“Projects like this bring real impact to communities,” said MWRD Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn. “We’re not only addressing local flooding and water quality, we’re giving students a safe, beautiful place to play and learn. It’s about protecting our water and investing in our children at the same time.”

Since its launch in 2014, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago has partnered with Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Department of Water Management, Healthy Schools Campaign, and Openlands to implement the Space to Grow program. To date, more than 36 schoolyards have been transformed, with additional upgrades planned for the future.