400,000 residents would benefit if schoolyards were unlocked. Why aren’t they?

From The Arizona Republic, August 13, 2019.  Jessica Boehm.

Schools often keep their gates closed on nights and weekends for a variety of reasons. Many fear vandalism, liability, wear and tear on equipment and extra staffing costs at a time when school districts are already stretched thin with other mandates.

But The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit advocacy organization, is calling on school districts across the country to open them up to create more open space for children.

Danielle Denk, a program manager at The Trust for Public Land, said her group is pushing for all Americans to have access to parks because of the benefits they provide for community cohesion and public health.