Green space in every schoolyard: the radical plan to cool Paris

[hunter]

1. The first elementary school I attended grades K-3...

... had a 100% asphalt playground.

There were black rubber mats under the "jungle gym," which happened to include one of the earlier Buckminster Fuller inspired geodesic dome playground structures. It was hot dangerous place, skinned knees and sunburn for the three seasons it doesn't rain in Southern California.

My kids grew up attending schools that have large grass play areas.

The elementary school they attended now has solar panels, the same sort you'd find over parking lots, shading most of the asphalt playground but the basketball courts. I think this is a wonderful thing. Kids can eat lunch and play outside in the shade. But trees might have been even nicer.