219933 Public Private Partnerships: The Learning Landscapes Program

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Rachel Cleaves, MURP , College of Architecture and Planning, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO
Lois Brink, MLA , College of Architecture and Planning, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
Recent research offers evidence that the challenges presented by urbanization are best addressed by broad-based collaborative community partnerships. Joint use agreements between schools and communities are a promising way to increase physical activity opportunities for under-served communities.

This proposal aims to share lessons learned in collaborative community planning and joint use from the implementation of Learning Landscapes (LL). LL is a successful collaboration between multiple stakeholders that since 1998 has transformed 52 neglected Denver elementary school playgrounds into multi-use playgrounds and public parks that are tailored to the needs and desires of the local community, increase physical activity, and build neighborhood civic engagement.

With a budget of approximately $450,000 per playground, University of Colorado Denver landscape architecture students and professors work with school officials, teachers, students and community members to design new school grounds that respond to the cultural makeup of the neighborhood, the aesthetic tastes of its residents, and the developmental needs of children. Due to the success of this initiative, in 2003, and 2005 Denver city voters passed bonds totaling over $20 million to fund the redevelopment of these elementary school yards. The schoolyards are open to the community for use after school.

Presenters will share the steps of the collaborative planning model utilized to engage students, parents, community members, teachers, and school and community officials in the design, build, and upkeep of the playgrounds. They will also discuss the steps needed to gain political support at the highest level of the Denver and Boulder school districts.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Environmental health sciences
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate a school district-wide partnership that successfully raises funds and increases accessibility to improved outdoor environments. Explain how these partnerships develop into sustainable partnerships between the school district and individual schools.

Keywords: School-Based Programs, Partnerships

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked intimately with the development and construction of Learning Landscape schoolyards since 2007.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.