Community school parks are shared public spaces located on school campuses, designed to serve both the students during school hours and the broader community outside of those times. These parks typically feature amenities like playgrounds, sports courts, and green spaces that are accessible to the public, fostering recreation and social interaction for all ages. By maximizing the use of school grounds, they efficiently provide valuable open space and recreational opportunities within neighborhoods.
Typical Size
Varies
Typical Length of Visit (Hours)
0.5–1
Typical Access
Community school parks should be accessible via low-stress bicycle routes, sidewalks, and major streets. They should also be directly accessible from the adjacent school, allowing seamless movement between facilities.
Camellia Avenue Elementary School (CSP).
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Typical Amenities
Infrastructure
Typical Architectural Elements
Guidelines for Community School Park
Zones
Recreation Areas
Zones
Natural Systems
Zones
Intensive Use Areas
Zones
Programmable Gathering Areas
Zones
Casual Use Areas
Connectivity
Seamless Public Space
Wayfinding
Gateways (Primary & Secondary)
Wayfinding
Gateways (Primary & Secondary)
Wayfinding
Gateways (Primary & Secondary)
Wayfinding
Gateways (Primary & Secondary)
Infrastructure
On-Site Parking
Infrastructure
Bike Parking
Infrastructure
Safe Crossings
Infrastructure
Safe Crossings
Infrastructure
Safe Crossings
Infrastructure
Comfort Facilities
Infrastructure
Transit Stop
Infrastructure
Shared Parking
Intensive use amenities like restrooms are provided at schoolRecreation and parking shared with schoolRecreation areas for range of agesNatural area buffers street edge and balances active amenitiesFlexible areas adapt to various school and community activitiesCasual use space connects back into neighborhoodSeating is abundant and variedProgrammable gathering andintensive uses support school and community eventsSCHOOL
Design
Context
Connectivity
Wayfinding
Infrastructure
Zones
Architectural Elements
Guidelines for Community School Park - Architecture
Architectural Recipe
(1-2) Small Elements + (1) Medium Element + (1) Large Element
Sample Outcomes
