The community had been talking about fixing up the aging schoolyard at Bradley Elementary School for close to two decades now but funding always seemed to fall short–until last year.
Now, through the city’s Schoolyard initiative, the Bradley schoolyard has been transformed into a beautiful play and outdoor classroom area. Crumbling blacktop has been replaced with jungle gyms, a track and basketball court and overgrown weeds and dirt has been replaced with a garden and learning area.
Last week, Mayor Thomas Menino joined Boston Public Schools leaders, along with families, staff, and partners, to open a new schoolyard at the Bradley.
“Our children need and deserve exciting places in which to play as well as hands-on opportunities to supplement the academics in their indoor classrooms,” said Menino. “Today we celebrate the hard work of a strong school community and neighborhood coming together toward this goal.
The Bradley was one of six Boston public elementary schools opening a new schoolyard or outdoor classroom this year through the Schoolyard Initiative, a public-private partnership between the City of Boston, Boston Public Schools and a collaborative of private funders. Since 1995, the Boston Schoolyard Initiative has been revitalizing Boston’s Schoolyards, reaching 75 schoolyards and tens of thousands of Boston children.
“We are grateful to Mayor Menino and the Boston Schoolyard Initiative for these tremendous investments in the schoolyards of our city,” said Bradley Principal Anne Kelley. “Here at the Bradley, and in every neighborhood of Boston, schools have safe, colorful, interactive spaces for recreation and education in the fresh air.”
The Bradley schoolyard includes new play equipment and an exciting new outdoor classroom designed for teaching and learning.
“The Bradley schoolyard exemplifies our commitment to working with the City of Boston and BPS to transform Boston’s schoolyards into dynamic centers for recreation, learning and community life,” said Myrna Johnson, executive director of the Boston Schoolyard Funders Collaborative. “We can’t wait to see this creative new schoolyard and outdoor classroom come to life as the teachers and students of the Bradley use it for recess, science, writing, and more.”
The Bradley School is located at 110 Beachview Road in East Boston and serves 270 K-5 students.