2024-09-19 12:58:28
The school yard will become the heart of every neighborhood in Sofia. After the last bell, it should be a center of attraction for everyone – for sports, relaxation or fun. This is one of the ideas embedded in the management program of the mayor of Vasil Terziev. And among the concepts for the development of the capital, which are especially close to his heart.
“One of the key projects of our team is the transformation of the schools into community centers with the opening of the schoolyards,” says Deputy Mayor for Education, Culture and Sports Yana Genova.
Currently, most of the yards have cracked asphalt, with old facilities, unmaintained green areas and a lack of space for outdoor learning. Namely, the courtyard of the neighborhood school is the closest and most suitable place for sports and games for young and old, for communication between families, for meeting neighbors, for cultural and educational events in the open air. This is especially true for new neighborhoods where there is a lack of infrastructure – green areas, parks, playgrounds and sports facilities.
We work with leading architects who, together with regional mayors, schools and through consultation with the neighborhood community, create a concept for the transformation of schoolyards. She
pilot will start with two schools –
one with a small, the other with a large yard. All schools will have access to the pilot architectural designs and will see the effect of the transformation and these courtyards. Depending on the conditions of the site and the wishes of the schools, they will be able to combine in the courtyard spaces outdoor classrooms, modern sports fields, recreation areas with landscaping, outdoor stages for culture and student performances. Some yards would allow
even the creation of shared urban gardens,
Genova said more.
The municipality has already drawn up a road map for the implementation of the project, starting with checking the pavements, sports facilities, lighting, landscaping, video surveillance, etc. “The topic of security and safety is of particular importance, that’s why the municipality does not think about permanent access by outsiders,” she says.
The opening of the courtyards will be outside of school hours
time and will be regulated in certain hours
We will count on the good cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science, school principals and regional mayors, Yana Genova emphasizes. Some Sofia schools have already opened their yards to the citizens and show that this is possible.
“For me, it’s an important thing that was a campaign promise and it’s one of the most important projects that I want to see start because it won’t end in this term. It’s the reimagining of schoolyards. Not just to be open. And to be provided with technical means, with people to take care of security. And for this to be the natural gathering place for the people of the neighborhood after the school activity is over. For this purpose, it should be created on the ground of this asphalt a wonderful park environment,” says Vasil Terziev himself.
This park environment should have modern sports facilities, there should be a place for art – a theater stage, a summer cinema, there should be a place where parents can sit among this greenery, rest, there should be climbing frames for the little ones, adds the deputy mayor in culture, education and sports. For the older ones there is
a street gym and a wall where graffiti artists can practice instead of painting the buildings
And for that to be the place where people are most at ease and for that thing to be the place that brings the community together.
And in the meantime, the Metropolitan Municipality started already last week the washing of the schoolyards for the start of the new school year. According to the previously prepared schedule, 172 educational establishments with a total area of over 600 decares have been applied for. The Metropolitan Inspectorate has made a preliminary agreement with the directors on the dates on which to provide access to the equipment and teams.