Playing Smart changelabsolutions.org | kaboom.org 20 Chapter 3 Case Studies Joint use agreements vary greatly in scope, shaped largely according to the character of the community they are designed to serve. This chapter looks at how joint use agreements expanded opportunities for exercise in six very different communities across the nation. Boston, Massachusetts Population 617,594 Development pattern High-density city Population density 12,760 per square mile of land Median household income $39,629 Partners involved City of Boston Boston Public Schools Boston Schoolyard Funders Collaborative Boston Schoolyard Initiative Many Boston schoolyards were paved over in the 1950s when city leaders discovered that asphalt cuts down maintenance costs. This left many of the city’s schools – which serve roughly 56,000 students, 72 percent of whom are eligible for free or reduced lunch – without any available green space. Many of the playgrounds built after the 1950s were set on top of asphalt surfaces. Today, a large-scale partnership between the city, private donors, a schoolyard nonprofit, and the public school system is improving play opportunities for Boston’s children. Launched in 1995, the partnership uses informal agreements to guide its efforts. In 16 years, 81 schoolyards have been revitalized into vibrant spaces that encourage both playing and learning; a multi-subject curriculum helps educators teach math, writing, science, and more using these playgrounds. More than 25,000 children have been reached, and the spaces are open for neighborhood enjoyment. And all that asphalt? More than 130 acres have been reclaimed. “I was amazed at how well the original documentation works,” says Myrna Johnson, the executive director of the Boston Schoolyard Initiative. “One of the guiding documents – the first task force
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