Albert M. Greenfield School

The Albert M. Greenfield School was the first public school in Philadelphia to be retrofitted for green infrastructure. Meliora provided the site and stormwater engineering that transformed its .3-acre asphalt schoolyard into a public space that provides better play areas, community greening, environmental education, and green stormwater infrastructure management.

Building on the concepts set forth in a Community Design Collaborative study, portions of the existing hardscape area were converted to porous rubber play areas, while much of the paving remained and was directed to bioretention and planting areas. Climbing structures designed by students were placed to protect plants from runaway balls and trampling feet.

We helped the school successfully obtain EPA 319 funds to help finance the transformation. The project meets the Philadelphia Water Department goals for one-inch runoff capture and with LEED Gold certification has become a model for green infrastructure retrofits in Philadelphia and beyond.