Studio HIP

In NYC, well-designed schoolyards are water utilities in disguise, employing green infrastructure elements that capture stormwater, reduce flooding, and protect communities from extreme heat. We love working with the Trust for Public Land , New York City Public Schools, NYC School Construction Authority, NYC Water, and NYC Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice to transform asphalt schoolyards into vibrant, climate-adaptive community assets that elevate public space in our city. Check out this article by Bradford McKee

Playground or Sponge? In NYC, well-designed schoolyards are water utilities in disguise, employing green infrastructure elements that capture stormwater, reduce flooding, and protect communities from extreme heat.

Lovely day for a playground opening! Located on Forest Avenue in the Bronx, this new schoolyard will provide students and neighborhood residents with a dynamic, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable space to play, learn, and gather. This new community playground is also open after school, on weekends, and in summer so the entire neighborhood will have a shady, vibrant and fun place to play!

Studio HIP is thrilled to see the Trust for Public Land NYC Playgrounds Program as a finalist in the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities also the 1st North American finalist in the award’s history! TPL has transformed 220+ schoolyards in NYC creating more sustainable & inclusive neighborhoods.

to opening day at the brand new PS 38K Community Playground designed by students through . This vibrant schoolyard renovation has an extensive green infrastructure system, lots of trees, green roofs on the gazebo and storage container, a large learning garden and three outdoor classrooms! This community playground has something for everyone thanks to and funding from and NYC Council Member
Thanks also go out to our contractor MSM Empire Construction Corp. and manufacturers of site furnishings: .ritter_maglin and plant material from
Photos by

The opening of PS 98 The Douglaston School was exciting on many levels! From the joy of kids playing on the new equipment to discovering their own artwork painted on the ground, and the butterflies abound, including the in the garden and swallowtail caterpillars emerging on the parsley!

Giving a big to the fabulous products and manufacturers that make the 223Q special:

1-2: the new Butterfly climber and butterfly chimes by (rep’d by are colorful, bright and ways to bring nature, art and music to the playground

3-4: Bike Garden by in clay that mimic reeds to go with the jungle theme students wanted

5-6: Custom pod seats (also the stage) manufactured by and recycled plastic lumber raised planters using make for the perfect where students can grow their own food
7: the custom gazebo (also by Custom Fabrication) with a supplied by that not only cools the area it also captures storm water and cleans the air.

8-9: Stripes semicircle bench by with traffic yellow powdercoat to offer flexible seating along the turf field

10: Barrier-free drinking fountain with bottle filler by will keep everyone hydrated so they can play more

We are thrilled to share the official opening of this gorgeous, green in designed by students through unique process where students become - learning about and
The joy on these students faces made possible by funding from with public funding from former Queens Borough President and NYC council member
Shout out to and the TPL team: Joan Keener and Maddalena Polletta

Photos by

The amount of rainfall we have received in in the last 2 weeks reveals the dire need to include more in our city. In collaboration with and our environmental engineers , NYC Playgrounds Program sites include multiple design elements to help capture, store and slowly release including permeable synthetic turf fields, outdoor classrooms, green roofs on gazebos and storage containers, permeable pavers, lots of trees and of course, lots of garden areas. Removing asphalt at over 200 schools across NYC, these sites collect millions of gallons of stormwater annually.

On a hot day like today, finding a shady spot to read is really cool! This outdoor classroom in Harlem is surrounded by shrubs and trees, providing a quiet place to learn while cooling the surrounding pavement.

New opening! P.S. 130 Brooklyn Community Playground, designed by the students, provides a green, cool and safe place to play, relax and learn! Check out this modern too!

We are so happy that our contractors are starting construction on a few new again. This site, located in the Two Bridges / Chinatown neighborhood in lower Manhattan will replaces all that asphalt with trees, gardens (curbs being trenched here), and new play equipment surrounded by green infrastructure as part of and NYCDEP Green Schoolyards initiative to capture 1.8 million gallons of storm water. Stay tuned as we post more progress photos this summer.

This new playground in the heart of Brooklyn manages a million gallons of stormwater annually through productive learning gardens, outdoor classrooms, shade trees in permeable pavers and a large synthetic turf field that captures and infiltrates stormwater. Oh, and a on the gazebo!