Running, playing, chatting, observing nature, or resting: children don't all use their schoolyard in the same way. The municipality aims to better address these different needs with the 'Projet Générations'. The objective is to create more shade, provide more space for nature, and offer more pleasant areas during hot weather. Mobility, including that of children with disabilities, is among the needs to be considered. Each school will have a project tailored to its children, spaces, and needs.
The Town has chosen to involve children, parents, and school teams in this reflection. Teachers, activity leaders, and staff who prepare meals or maintain the premises also contribute their experience. This participation has a concrete goal: to understand what works, what is missing, and what could be improved. Ideas are then studied based on feasibility, safety, maintenance, and available budget. Not all suggestions can be retained, and explaining the choices is part of the process.
The Jules Ferry and Charles Perrault schools are the first to participate in the workshops. Children observe their schoolyard, discover the plants and animals that live there, and then propose ideas, which they can also represent with models. The Departmental Council for Architecture, Urban Planning, and Environment of Val-de-Marne (CAUE 94) supports this work, helping participants imagine suitable spaces.
Depending on the location, projects may include plantings, shade, areas for play, or quiet spaces. They could also improve rainwater infiltration into the soil and facilitate outdoor classroom activities. The initiative will then continue in other schools, paced by studies and available resources. The future Anne Frank school also incorporates these objectives from its design.
