Boston, MA
As part of Boston Public Schools’ Green New Deal initiative, the Washington Irving Elementary School landscape was designed to embody the values of safety, health, climate resilience, and inclusivity. Crowley Cottrell played an active role in shaping the site to support over 700 students from pre-K through 6th grade—ensuring the outdoor environment is integrated into the daily life of the school. Working closely with the architects, our team influenced key building modifications to improve indoor-outdoor program adjacencies. A new doorway was introduced from the cafeteria into the schoolyard, providing direct access for supervised outdoor dining, recess, and informal learning. An existing stair from the gym was removed and replaced with a sloped, landscaped walk, ensuring that all students— regardless of mobility—can move safely and independently between indoor spaces and outdoor play.
The site plan supports active use at scale. Play equipment was selected for durability and to serve large numbers of students across a range of ages and abilities. Net climbers, basket swings, asphalt games, and nature-based play zones promote movement, exploration, and connection to the natural world. A natural turf play field, tot track, and basketball hoop provide space for older students and physical education classes. Accessibility and safety upgrades extend beyond the play yard: new site grading, crosswalks, and bollards were coordinated with the building’s new elevator access points and redesigned drop-off areas. The landscape significantly increases vegetated area, replaces the synthetic turf with a natural lawn, and incorporates over 50 new native trees and a protected wetland buffer—approved by the Boston Conservation Commission in 2023. The result is a resilient and welcoming campus that links indoor and outdoor learning environments, supports active programming, and meets the long-term needs of an urban public school.
