Our funding would support the transformation of five asphalt schoolyards at high-need schools in the City of Milwaukee into vibrant green spaces. MPS staff and the team from Reflo will work with each school community (teachers, students, parents, neighbors, administrators, maintenance staff and non-profit partners) to create conceptual plans for replacing hardscape at MPS schoolyards with green infrastructure features. The proposal supports the detailed design, permitting, fundraising and construction of green infrastructure, directly impacting over 3,000 students and thousands of families and surrounding community members, while addressing Milwaukee’s stormwater needs. As part of the project, high school students will be hired through an Environmental Internship Program to help design, implement and maintain green infrastructure at the various schools. MPS will remove 6.5 acres of asphalt and replace it with green infrastructure to capture and treat 9.7 million gallons of stormwater a year.   They will also plant 325 trees and incorporate nature-based learning and play spaces into the schoolyards.