Annually, Reflo works with partners including Milwaukee Public Schools, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, the City of Milwaukee, the Fund for Lake Michigan, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP) and others to support five Milwaukee-area schools in an intensive, collaborative process to design and then redevelop greener, healthier schoolyards. Each project is tailored to the specific needs and enthusiasm of the school’s community but often involves replacing seas of asphalt with green infrastructure including bioswales, rain gardens, and trees as well as outdoor classrooms, improved recreational facilities and arts opportunities. The placemaking designs go beyond removing pavement to maximize benefits for communities, the environment, and local economy.
COHORT 7 (2025)
Humboldt Park // Kagel // Riverwest Elementary //
Samuel Clemens // Walt Whitman
COHORT 6 (2024)
Forest Home // Greenfield Bilingual // Lincoln Avenue //
Milwaukee Sign Language & Morse Middle // Story Elementary
COHORT 5 (2023)
Gaenslen // German Immersion // Kluge // Mitchell // Riley
COHORT 4 (2022)
Benjamin Franklin // Hayes Bilingual // Nathaniel Hawthorne // Neeskara // Zablocki Elementary
COHORT 3 (2021)
Academy of Accelerated Learning // Allen-Field // Bay View Montessori // La Escuela Fratney // North Division High School
COHORT 2 (2020)
Clement Avenue School // Anna F. Doerfler // Golda Meir (Lower Campus) // Vincent High School // Westside Academy
COHORT 1 (2019)
Burdick // Hawley // Longfellow // Starms ECC
PILOT (2018)
Bradley Tech High School // Escuela Vieau
SUMMARY VIDEO & DoCUMENT
VIRTUAl TOUR
Explore the schoolyard and learn more about Clement's journey from a sea of asphalt to interactive, learning spaces that highlight native species and promote biodiversity in Milwaukee.
How You Can Make a Difference
- Tell a friend, family member or colleague about green and healthy schools and the GSCM
- Like the GSCM on Facebook and share posts and newsletters
- Attend a bi-monthly consortium meeting
- Participate in a GSCM committee (Administrative, Project, and Education)
- Sponsor, plan, exhibit, speak, or volunteer at next year’s Green Schools Conference
- Explore the Green and Healthy School story shared in the Milwaukee Community Map
- Sign up for the EcoLiteracy Challenge
- Inquire about what your children’s or your neighborhood’s school is doing to green its campus
- Develop a green and healthy school initiative at your school or organization
- Apply for your school to go through the schoolyard redevelopment process with Reflo and MMSD
- Sign your school up for recognition through the Green and Healthy Schools Wisconsin program
- Adopt DPI’s newly released “Wisconsin Standards for Environmental Literacy and Sustainability”
- Support and advocate for sustained funding for schoolyard redevelopment projects
- Provide funding for the continued administration of the GSCM
- Include Reflo’s Green and Healthy Schools Program in your annual charitable contributions
- Schedule a meeting with Reflo to learn more about the GSCM and how you can stay engaged
Want your school to be part of a future cohort?
Contact Lisa Neeb to learn more.
