Climate-proof schoolyard for OBS Slingerbos primary school

OBS Slingerbos primary school is taking the initiative of converting its schoolyard, now largely paved, into a green-blue schoolyard. Not only will this climate-proof the area, it will also challenge the children to play in and with nature, and to exercise more. Furthermore, the new schoolyard will provide opportunities for educational applications.

In order to improve the schoolyard’s resilience against climate change, the school is constructing an Infiltration and Transport (IT) sewer system for rainwater. This system consists of a horizontal pipe covered in geotextile that lets rainwater infiltrate into the soil. Rainwater can thus infiltrate into the sandy soils underneath the school premises, rather than being discharged into the purification plant. The construction of small gutters to drain the rainwater from the schoolyard lets children experience what the disconnection of downspouts entails.

Furthermore, a drain will be constructed near the patio that directs rainwater to two above-ground water storage facilities: at the east side and the west side of the school, hollows will be excavated to temporarily store water during extreme downpours.

Image: School staff, parents, children, the district water board, and the Ulebelt nature information centre created mini-schoolyards to gain a picture of how they would like the schoolyard make-over to turn out.

School staff, parents, and children are weighing in on the redesign of the schoolyard. The project must eventually result in a “natural schoolyard” featuring water gardens, trees, and shrubs. The development of the project is utilised by the “Beweeg Wijs” programme, a teaching method involving lessons being taught outdoors. By making water visible, children become aware of how water flows and how it drains into the subsoil.

Contact person

Janneke Diels
Waterschap Drents Overijsselse Delta
088 - 233 14 96
Jannekediels@wdodelta.nl