Outdoor learning spaces blossom in Boston

The shortage of open green space for children in Boston had become so acute that Mayor Thomas Menino launched the Boston Schoolyard Initiative in 1995, bringing together city and school leaders, local residents, and private funders to create inviting outdoor settings for schools and communities to share. It started with transforming asphalt wastelands into colorful climbing structures, landscaped walking paths, and space for public art. In 2005, the initiative began adding outdoor classrooms--mini wilderness zones, gardening areas, and other features that teachers use for everything from science lessons to writing projects.