I love playing outside. (And I'm really fast.)

Landscape Architecture Professor Lois Brink began her research and the implementation of Learning Landscapes in 1998 when she experienced first-hand the inadequacies of her child’s elementary schoolyard. Today, Learning Landscapes has become a $50 million design and construction initiative that has transformed all 96 Denver public elementary schools. 

With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Learning Landscapes leverages Brink’s expertise in landscape architecture, research, and business to create play spaces that enrich education, foster community, and revitalize urban settings. 

What Makes Learning Landscapes Unique 

Learning Landscapes go beyond traditional playgrounds, resembling campus designs that cater to their community’s needs. “These spaces feature welcoming gateways, shade structures, outdoor classrooms, age-appropriate play equipment, hard surface games, and art elements created by children and community artists,” says Brink. “They also include grass fields, habitat, and vegetable gardens, walking paths, fitness equipment, and more, each tailored to the specific school.” 

When the initiative began, the goal was to benefit children’s health and well-being, but the impact has also shown that it can help with students’ test scores, attendance, and mobility.

96 completed Learning Landscapes

46,500 students served daily

500,000 city residents served 

Immersive Learning at CU Denver 

Experiential learning is a cornerstone of CU Denver’s Master of Landscape Architecture program. In addition to internships, students engage in immersive studios, including travel components with community projects. Recently, the studio visited New Orleans to explore resilient community play spaces and develop designs for off-the-grid systems that enhance outdoor learning environments. 

"Students designed outdoor learning spaces with off-the-grid electricity for phone charging, even during power outages. These spaces also have stormwater capture systems, misters, and fans to keep them cool in the summer, making them more comfortable for children and families to enjoy."