Schools across the US are removing asphalt to reduce heat risks

Schools are transforming asphalt playgrounds into greener spaces to combat extreme heat, which has become more dangerous as temperatures rise.

Anna Phillips reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

• Asphalt schoolyards magnify heat risks, with some surfaces reaching 145°F, putting children at risk of burns and heat illness.
• Efforts to green these spaces are expanding, with cities like Los Angeles and Philadelphia leading projects to add trees and reduce pavement.
• Costs and funding disparities make it harder for low-income school districts to implement these changes, despite the urgency.

Key quote:

“When you plant trees, you also get benefits for children’s well-being, for their learning, for play, for community access.”

— Sharon Danks, CEO of Green Schoolyards America

Why this matters:

Extreme heat in urban schools poses a growing danger to children, especially in low-income areas. Greening schoolyards offers a solution that improves health, safety and learning conditions.

Related EHN coverage:

• Hot roads and roofs send harmful pollution into the air
• Cities embrace nature by removing concrete for greener spaces
• Dangerous pavement burns increase as desert heat intensifies