At an event today at Crawford W. Long Middle School, U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, D-GA, announced that Atlanta Public Schools has received $700,000 in congressionally directed spending to support future community schoolyard projects in Atlanta.

Williams joined Atlanta Public Schools and Trust for Public Land leaders to celebrate the new federal investment, which will help transform school grounds into vibrant outdoor spaces that support student learning and recreation while expanding neighborhood access to green space beyond the school day.

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-GA, and U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-GA, were also acknowledged for championing the request and helping secure its inclusion in the final bill.

“As a proud APS mama, I know how much it means for our children to have places where they can learn, play, explore and just be kids,” said Congresswoman Williams. These projects aren’t just playgrounds and outdoor spaces. They support outdoor education, build climate resilience, connect us to nature and improve park equity — because all children deserve a safe and accessible place to play, no matter their ZIP code or bank account.” 

The Schoolyards Program is a national initiative of Trust for Public Land designed to expand community access to schoolyards during non-school hours and increase the percentage of people who live within a 10-minute walk of a park. In Atlanta, the program is implemented in partnership with APS, other non-profit organizations, and city agencies, with additional support from the philanthropic community.

“Community schoolyards are one of the smartest ways we can expand access to green space in Atlanta neighborhoods,” said George Dusenbury, Georgia state director for TPL. “This federal investment will help Atlanta Public Schools create places that support students during the school day and serve families and neighbors after hours, ensuring more Atlantans have safe, high-quality places to play, learn and gather.”

In Atlanta, 18 percent of residents still do not live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Over the past six years, TPL has worked with 14 Atlanta schools to redesign schoolyards so they can serve as parks during non-school hours. The first campus selected for this phase is Crawford W. Long Middle School in the Glenrose Heights neighborhood of South Atlanta. Additional details on sites and timelines will be announced as planning moves forward.

“At Atlanta Public Schools, we know schools are more than buildings; they are spaces where lifelong memories are made. This project allows us to welcome all of our neighbors to create memories, friendships, and strong bonds right here on our schoolyards,” said Dr. Bryan Johnson, APS Superintendent. “By transforming these spaces into vibrant, welcoming places for play, learning, and connection, we are strengthening the relationship between our schools and the communities they serve. We are proud to partner with the Trust for Public Land to create schoolyards that are truly for everyone.” 

The community schoolyards work is part of a broader effort to bring more Atlantans within a 10-minute walk to a park, a critical measure in TPL’s annual Park Score Index. Since the program launched in Atlanta in 2019, TPL and APS have together opened twelve community schoolyards, supporting the city's climb from 41st to 21st in the Park Score ranking of the nation’s 100 most populous cities. ParkScore compares park systems across five categories: equity, access, investment, amenities and acreage.