SALT was commissioned by the School District of Philadelphia to renovate the asphalt schoolyard at William H. Hunter school, a K-8 school in the Kensington neighborhood that includes a large population of students with physical and intellectual disabilities. Extensive engagement was conducted with Hunter School students to tease out concepts that captured their love of imaginary play, gaming and the supernatural. Centered around the theme: “A dream, a fantasy, a magical place!” the reimagined schoolyard creates an accessible, flexible, and vibrant outdoor space that integrates play, learning, and recreation for children of all ages and abilities. The design features a colorful, oversized pattern of pixels on the ground plane to foster the feeling of immersion, while supporting a wide range of active and passive play opportunities, imaginative exploration, and healthy social interaction. In alignment with the principles of Playful Learning Landscapes, the design incorporates five specific skill-building objectives connected to nature and ecological literacy: creative thinking, communication, collaboration, confidence-building, and critical thinking. Key elements also include a fully accessible outdoor classroom, rain garden, inclusive play areas, urban forest with native plantings, turf lawns and a variety of new seating for social gathering.

Collaborators: Rodriguez Consulting, LLC