In March 2012, the Perry Schoolyard received the Boston Society of Landscape Architects’ Merit Award in Design. Designed by Warner Larson, Inc., a Boston-based landscape architectural firm, the Perry Schoolyard was completed in 2010.The Perry School currently serves 240 students in grades K-8.
The schoolyard was an expanse of asphalt paving with no play structures or furnishings and very few plants. Through a consensus-based community process with the school, neighborhood, Boston Schoolyard Initiative and the City, the design team created a schoolyard and outdoor classroom full of educational and recreational components.
The Harbor Islands nautical theme is inspired by the school’s strategic seaside location and creates a playful connection with its surroundings. The elliptical track is the organizing element linking play areas on the symbolic harbor islands around a big blue “harbor” painted on the pavement. The outdoor classroom with maritime elements wraps around the schoolyard with buffering seashore plantings. “George’s Island” provides active play for 5-12 year olds with challenging web, rock and bar climbers within a pentagon “fort” pattern in the rubber surfacing. “Thompson Island” allows for imaginative play for children aged 5 years and younger with a custom boat complete with a ship’s wheel and signal flags, a balance beam and a talk tube for the “captain” to communicate with crew out back. The 2-lane sand-colored painted track with metric measurements and phases of the moon, surrounds the open play area which hosted the Reebok “BOKS Kids” event on October 12th 2011.
The outdoor classroom (OC) has a custom boat-shaped work table and seating arranged in rows of wood pilings along with a custom lighthouse storage shed, raised planters and compost area. Wood logs, stumps and boulders provide informal seating and stone paths for exploration meander through the woodland, sunny and wet meadow. An armature, sundial, thermometers, wind-vane, water source and digging area are some of the lab components provided in the outdoor classroom. A nautical flagpole designed as the “boat’s” mast recently served as the focal point in a ceremony honoring heroes of 911. The OC has even been used for community yoga and scavenger hunts!
Maritime quotations are engraved in boulders at “Spectacle Island” including one from the school’s namesake “Oliver Hazard Perry “, a US Navy Commodore (1785-1819). The Perry Shark (school’s mascot) is integrated into one of the OC gates and on the wind vane atop the schoolyard entry gate (from E. 8th St) complete with “shark bites” in the sign edges.
The collaborative approach involving the teachers, students, administration and neighbors throughout the design process fostered a strong sense of pride and ownership which is vital to the long-term care of this space. Since the project’s completion, the South Boston Neighborhood House and Youth Build are assisting with the seasonal maintenance. In addition, community fundraising and volunteer efforts are underway for future projects such as a custom entry gate on E. 7th St and telescope at “Spectacle Island”. The New England Aquarium is also engaged with the school’s 2011-12 educational programs.
This project transformed a bleak, paved lot into a vibrant play and learning environment for the school and community. The nautical theme and details throughout the outdoor classroom and schoolyard creates a distinct sense of place that is fun and engaging.
Warner Larson is an award-winning landscape architecture firm integrating comprehensive site design, engineering and permitting services for academic institutions, athletic facilities, parks & playgrounds, commercial developments and residential projects throughout New England.
Play Yard View from top 2.jpg