Creating space can open up new revenue streams—have you seen what just one extra room can do? Imagine turning that unused area into a cozy workspace or a rental! Let’s get creative and start shaping our spaces into sources of income. 🌱 #EntrepreneurMindset #SpaceToGrow

Graphic titled “Greening underserved schools while preventing floods in Chicago,” from the Canadian Health Association for Sustainability and Equity (CHASE), dated September 9, 2025. The image shows a redesigned schoolyard with trees, greenery, benches, a playground with slides, and a circular paved area. Text below describes the Space to Grow program, a collaboration between Healthy Schools Campaign, Openlands, Chicago Public Schools, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and the Chicago Department of Water Management. The program reduces flooding, protects water quality, and provides safe, vibrant outdoor spaces for children in under-resourced neighborhoods.

📣 ICYMI: Greening Underserved Schools while Preventing Floods in #Chicago 📰

➡️ mwrd.org/news/greening-underserved-schools-while-preventing-floods-chicago-chase-canada

#MWRD #SpaceToGrow #GreenInfrastructure

@healthyschoolscampaign.org
@chipubschools.bsky.social

A graphic with a white background featuring a headline in large, black type: “Space to Grow partners cut ribbon on Spencer Academy schoolyard” centered at the top. A black line runs along the top and left edges, meeting at the logo of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), located at the upper left. A photo from the school playground shows the ribbon cutting with organizational leaders, staff and students. Text below reads: “A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held May 30, 2025, at Spencer Elementary Technology Academy, 214 N. Lavergne Ave., in Chicago's Austin neighborhood, to celebrate the completion of a major schoolyard transformation that will help manage stormwater, promote outdoor learning, and provide new recreational spaces for students and the community. Thanks to the Space to Grow program, the once mostly asphalt-covered yard has been redesigned into a vibrant, multi-functional green space that allows the schoolyard to capture and hold up to 190,872 gallons of stormwater during each rain event, reducing neighborhood flooding and improving water quality. To date, more than 36 schoolyards have been transformed, with additional upgrades planned for the future. ‘This transformation is a shining example of what's possible when agencies come together with the community in mind. We're proud to support projects that not only build climate resilience to assist with stormwater management but also promote water conservation and the benefits of green infrastructure,’ said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. Learn more at MWRD.org/News.”

💝✂️ A ribbon-cutting was held May 30 at Spencer Elementary Tech Academy in #Austin, #Chicago.

Since 2014, #MWRD & partners have transformed 36+ schoolyards through #SpaceToGrow 🌱🏫—with more on the way.

🛝 mwrd.org/news/space-grow-partners-cut-ribbon-spencer-academy-schoolyard

#GreenInfrastructure

A rendering of a new school playground at Spencer Academy in Chicago featuring a track and artificial turf field, volleyball court, basketball court, porous playground surfacing, nature play area, rain gardens, outdoor classroom, and permeable paver walkways.

Spencer Elementary Technology Academy students and staff join the ribbon cutting ceremony with MWRD commissioners and staff from the collaborative partners involved in developing the school’s new playground including Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Department of Water Management, Healthy Schools Campaign and Openlands.

✂️ A ribbon-cutting today at Spencer Elementary in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood celebrated a new schoolyard designed to manage stormwater, support outdoor learning, and offer fresh play spaces for students and the community. 🛝🏀🌱

mwrd.org/news/space-g...

#SpaceToGrow #MWRD #Chicago #Austin

What a joy to attend Space to Grow ribbon cutting @ Brown Community Academy🌱 There is nothing more important than our future generations having equitable access to green spaces, especially those that hold up to 303,246 gallons of storm water! #chicagopublicschools #spacetogrow #greenspaces

Photo of two smiling women against a pink wall next to a large sign saying MACS - supporting children and young people

Photo of the front of a terrace house / building. There is a sign for the MACS service up front and the windows are covered in pink and white posters with the MACS logo on.

Today I’m in Belfast and met our delivery partner MACS NI.

@childrenssociety.bsky.social collaborate with them & @childrenfirst.bsky.social on our new #SpaceToGrow early help children’s mental health service.

Thanks to all at MACS & the CEO Kate for such a warm welcome - love the collaboration