Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. EPA in Virginia

Designing Green School Grounds

Stories of Progress in Achieving Healthy Waters

U.S. EPA Region 3 Water Protection Division

Newport News, Virginia • January 5, 2017

EPA is helping Newport News, Virginia take steps to prevent flooding and control stormwater on school grounds – part of an overall effort by government agencies and other partners to address the city’s revitalization needs.

Newport News is one of five communities in EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region receiving assistance under the Agency’s (MVD) effort.

The EPA Mid-Atlantic Region’s Office of State and Watershed Partnerships engaged the Newport News Public Schools and the city in a Green School Grounds Initiative that focuses on using green infrastructure techniques to manage stormwater on school property. The effort is aimed at helping the city comply with stormwater requirements, protect water quality and promote environmental literacy and stewardship.

The school system selected Sedgefield Elementary School in the city’s Southeast community as a starting point for the initiative. The school is affected by localized flooding.

A special forum generated green design ideas from the city’s engineering and public works staffs, school facilities personnel, experts from Virginia Tech, landscape architects and community representatives. There were also presentations from the school’s 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students themselves.

The ideas are being used to develop concept designs for the grounds – a necessary step in order to seek project funding.

As part of the initiative, the green approach taken by the city and the school system is being developed into a step-by-step “Storm Smart Schools Guidebook” that will be transferrable to other communities. The guidebook is expected to be released in early 2017.

The Green School Grounds Initiative was among the topics discussed at a Newport News revitalization forum sponsored by EPA, the Southeast CARE Coalition and the city.

At the forum, more than 80 people engaged in finding solutions to the most pressing problems facing the city’s most overburdened neighborhoods – from air and toxics pollution to equitable development.

A map of Virginia highlighting the location of Newport News
  • Designing Green School Grounds (pdf) (642.08 KB, 01/05/2017)
Sign announces special forum – the Green School Grounds Design Charrette.
Sign announces special forum – the Green School Grounds Design Charrette.

AT A GLANCE

  • EPA sponsors design “charrette” to solicit ideas for green school grounds.

  • Goal is to reduce pollution and flooding and promote learning.

For additional information, contact:

Jeanna R. Henry
Office of State and Watershed Partnerships
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 3 Water Protection Division
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
henry.jeanna@epa.gov

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on February 10, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.