20 New Schoolyards—Unlimited Possibilities.

When I was a kid, my favorite thing to do on the schoolyard was playing sports with my friends. Whether it was soccer, basketball, or football, it was all about having fun in the moment—as it should be. But the mental, social, and academic benefits that play provides last a lifetime.

All kids deserve that. But in Oakland, 86% of students are not reaching their recommended daily level of physical activity.   

At Eat. Learn. Play., we’re on a mission to change that. That’s why, last Friday, I was so proud to be at Joaquin Miller Elementary alongside over 150 incredible volunteers to celebrate our 20th schoolyard build with the Oakland Unified School District.

With two brand-new play structures, a multi-sport court, soccer pitch, kickball court, nature play areas, beautiful murals, and a Little Town Library, the Joaquin Miller schoolyard is now full of opportunities for kids to move, explore, and imagine. 

Since 2021, over 4,000 volunteers have contributed more than 30,000 hours of service to bring new schoolyards to life all across Oakland.

Our partners at KABOOM! work with us to engage the school community at every step, involving students and families in the design process. It’s become a movement that is only possible with the support of an incredible village of partners and volunteers—and one that is transforming the school experience for a generation of Oakland students. 

So far, these 20 schoolyards are providing play access for more than 8,000 Oakland students each day.  And we’re not done yet. We're on track to complete 23 schoolyard builds by the end of this year and we're not going to stop until all kids have access to great schoolyards where they can play, learn, and grow.

Thank you for helping us reach this milestone—and for making play possible for all kids. 

Thank you,

Chris Helfrich

CEO, Eat. Learn. Play.