Delta, Trust for Public Land partner to transform Atlanta schoolyard

By Judy Graham-Weaver, Community Engagement

Delta people recently rolled up their sleeves to help transform the Sarah Smith Elementary School playground in northeast Atlanta into a colorful neighborhood destination, the latest project in our partnership with the Trust for Public Land (TPL).

Other community volunteers joined the effort Oct. 9 at this Atlanta Public School as part of TPL’s Atlanta Community Schoolyards program, which envisions a future where green schoolyards become a standard practice, serving as a hub for community empowerment, improved health and education, and climate resiliency.

In addition to the playground, volunteers helped with supplemental projects including painting, planting a community garden, installing bird houses and invasive plant removal. 

“The Trust for Public Land’s mission is about education outcomes, health outcomes, climate outcomes and social outcomes. One of the beauties of the Sarah Smith Elementary School community is that it has the highest English as a second language population of any public school in the Atlanta Public School system. This is one of the best places to bring together people of all different backgrounds to impact this community,” said Devin Girod, Southeast Director of Philanthropy at The Trust for Public Land. 

The Trust for Public Land launched the Atlanta Community Schoolyards project in 2019 to redesign playgrounds and play areas to be more inviting to the surrounding community outside of the school day. The Community Schoolyards program is part of its mission to create a park within a 10-minute walk from home for everyone in America.  

“We are excited to work with The Trust for Public Land and Sarah Smith Elementary School on this important Atlanta Community Schoolyards initiative. This is the second of three schoolyard projects Delta has committed to in partnership with TPL, where we’ll join forces to help make schoolyards more accessible and inviting for community members outside of the Monday through Friday school hours,” said Tad Hutcheson, Managing Director – Community Engagement. “We’re thrilled to be back out volunteering to help make a difference in the communities where we live, work and serve.”