Bringing students closer to nature through green schoolyards

MMSD’s Fresh Coast Green Schoolyards

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) selected Greenprint to lead the Fresh Coast Green Schoolyards program for suburban schools within MMSD’s service area. The program aimed to enhance stormwater management while also fostering student eco-literacy, increasing student interest in the water industry and encouraging community engagement. We facilitated the outreach process and selected seven schools for participation: Willow Glen Primary, Deer Creek Intermediate, St. Francis High, Horace Mann Elementary, General Mitchell Elementary, Shorewood High and Glen Hills Middle School.

Greenprint prioritized schools with the highest potential for stormwater management and educational opportunities. Eligible public schools were initially ranked based on important factors like the availability of municipal funding to help with construction costs, environmental justice data from the US EPA, and stormwater management needs. From there, additional factors such as green infrastructure (GI) feasibility, proximity to sewer overflow discharge points and key watersheds, access to nearby parks and the school’s commitment to the project led to final site selection. This thorough process helped us choose a diverse group of schools to pilot the program.

Our team collaborated with school leadership at every step of their projects, from co-designing GI plans to helping them apply for construction funding. Students participated by voting on the plants and pollinators they hoped to see in their schoolyards and learning about GI and combined sewers through Greenprint-developed educational videos.

The designs not only maximized stormwater management capabilities but also improved site use so students and staff could better engage with nature through features such as outdoor classrooms and sensory gardens. In total, the schoolyards manage 300,000 gallons of water during heavy storms, contributing to MMSD’s 2035 Vision.

“Working with Greenprint Partners was truly a pleasure. They listened carefully to our goals for an outdoor educational space and then came up with a comprehensive plan, complete with ideas for funding sources and upkeep. They were responsive to our questions and concerns and I would not hesitate to work with them on any future projects at Shorewood High School." 

–Timothy Kenney, Principal of Shorewood High School