A family walks across the basketball court at Gidley School.

August 20, 2026

Gidley Opens the Last of Three Living Schoolyards

Built to be used

The campus has five outdoor classrooms with native gardens and stormwater features, nature play areas, and shaded seating where families wait at pickup. Teachers can take a lesson outside, and the gardens catch rain where it falls instead of sending it to the storm drain.

Aerial view of Gidley's resurfaced basketball and multi-use courts, handball walls, and new native planting, with the San Gabriel Mountains behind.

Resurfaced courts, new planting, and the walking loop along the field.

“At Gidley, 4.5 acres of hot asphalt became a cooler, greener campus where kids want to be,” said David Diaz, Executive Director of ActiveSGV. “The new trees, shaded seating, and walking loop make it easier for students and families to stay active and spend time outdoors.”

The walking loop

A decomposed granite path loops along the play field, past new trees, with benches set along the way. Families can walk it during pickup or after school, and there is somewhere to sit while they wait.

A row of new wooden benches set along a decomposed granite walking path beside the Gidley play field, with young trees behind.

Benches line the decomposed granite loop that runs along the play field.

Overhead view of the new walking loop and benches curving past mature trees beside the Gidley play field.

The loop curves past mature shade trees at the edge of the field.

“By introducing natural play spaces, vibrant walking paths, and more shade for relaxation, this initiative maximizes the potential for what our physical spaces can offer students, staff, and families,” said Joella Richenberger, Principal of Gidley School.

An adult and a young child walk past the resurfaced basketball courts at Gidley, with nature play stepping stones in the foreground.

Families walking the new path on opening night.

All three campuses

Cortada opened in spring 2026 and Shirpser opened on August 13. With Gidley, the project has added 187 trees and 15 outdoor classrooms across 10.35 acres of El Monte school campuses.

“Gidley's new living schoolyard marks an exciting new chapter for the school community,” said Dr. Maribel Garcia, Superintendent of the El Monte City School District. “We are grateful for this investment in Gidley and excited to see students, staff, and families bring these new outdoor spaces to life.”

Two students climb a boulder play structure in a mulched play area at Gidley School at sunset.

Students climbing the new boulder structure during Back-to-School Night.

Thank you to the El Monte City School District, the Trust for Public Land, CAL FIRE, and the Gidley families who came out to celebrate. Funding for Gidley School's Living Schoolyard was provided by the Governor and Legislature from the 2022/2023 State General Fund as administered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Urban and Community Forestry Program.

Gidley Opens the Last of Three Living Schoolyards

Built to be used

The walking loop

All three campuses

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Shirpser School Opens Its Living Schoolyard