Since the 1990s, we have collaborated with both private and public schools to design playgrounds as vital learning spaces for the holistic development of children. In particular, we partnered with Success Academy Charter School to  reinvigorate typical asphalt yards of Department of Education schools in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. Through rigorous analysis of each location and the needs of the multiple groups sharing the space, we developed custom playscapes that do not depend on fixed play equipment. This allows a rich variety of use and a sense of adventure. Interactive landscapes and natural features organize zones for active and quiet play, encouraging imagination and allowing students and teachers to construct their own narratives.