Block Club Chicago: The new playground at Spencer Technology Academy has a nature area, multisport court and permeable surfaces that collect rainwater in an area prone to flooding.

 A new playground is bringing health and wellness opportunities to an Austin elementary school while also functioning as a reservoir for rainwater to protect against future flooding.

Spencer Technology Academy, 214 N. Lavergne Ave., unveiled a redesigned playground Friday that features ample play space, a nature play area, space for school programs and the ability to hold up to more than 190,000 gallons of water during major storms.

The playground was designed by nonprofits Healthy Schools Campaign and Openlands as part of the Space To Grow program, an initiative that has worked for more than a decade to transform schoolyards on the South and West sides.

“From the new playground to the nature play area and vibrant gardens, this space is designed to support learning, play and a deeper connection to the natural world,” Michael Davidson, president and CEO of Openlands, said at the playground unveiling.

The playground also includes a new multisport court and interactive musical instrument installations. The project has beautified and made more usable a space that had previous issues with upkeep, said Frances Thibodeaux-Fox, principal of Spencer Technology Academy.

The playground was previously defaced with graffiti and was the site of gang activity, with parts of the old play area being burned, Thibodeaux-Fox said. She said she is excited for her students to enjoy their new space for sports, playing or just sitting and talking with friends.

“To actually see the grounds transform from a broken-up playground space where the equipment was either damaged or not conducive to children having a good time … there’s so many different activities that the students can involve themselves with now,” Thibodeaux-Fox said.

A rainwater garden at the playground is equipped with green stormwater infrastructure technology that captures rainwater and reduces stress on the city’s sewer system to prevent flooding, according to program officials.

Permeable surfaces at the gardens, play areas and other infrastructure at the playground allow water to get through layers of gravel and rocks to flow into an underground network of chambers that act like a sponge to retain runoff and gradually release water into the ground.

Austin and the greater West Side have long faced issues of flooding, highlighted by the record-breaking summer storms that hit Chicago in 2023, with up to 9 inches of rain blanketing the area in 24 hours. Thousands of basements were reported flooded and nearly one in four Austin homes experienced severe flooding.

The new playground marks the 36th redesigned playground in the city as part of the Healthy Schools Campaign and the third school in Austin, following George Leland Elementary School and Henry H. Nash Elementary School. Every time it rains in Chicago, these playgrounds collectively store up to 7 million gallons of rainwater, according to a Healthy Schools Campaign report.

To learn more about the playground and citywide efforts, visit spacetogrowchicago.org.

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