The Walls Project + Cool Schools: Building Playgrounds, Painting Dreams

Cool Schools, led by our partners at the Texas Trees Foundation, is leading the charge in reimagining schoolyards across the Metroplex. These playgrounds are more than places to play; they are outdoor learning labs designed to give students and families access to safe, shaded, and inspiring green spaces in neighborhoods that have historically lacked them. By planting trees, adding gardens, and creating interactive outdoor spaces, Texas Trees is helping build healthier environments where young people can learn and thrive.

Right alongside this transformation, The Walls Project is bringing color, culture, and voice into these new spaces through student-inspired murals. Each mural reflects the identity and creativity of the students themselves, turning playgrounds into vibrant canvases that instill pride and belonging.

See more photos and details of the completed murals here:

• Be Kind at John Quincy Adams Elementary

• Inspiration at Martin Luther King Arts Academy

• 75217 at E.B. Comstock

• JN Ervin at JN Ervin Middle School

• The World is Bigger than Oak Cliff at Oak Cliff

This collaboration is especially important for South Dallas, where investment in schools and public spaces hasn’t always matched the needs of the community. By combining the environmental expertise of Texas Trees with the artistic and cultural storytelling of The Walls Project, these playgrounds become more than renovations; they become symbols of equity, resilience, and hope.

Together, The Walls Project and Cool Schools are not just changing the look of playgrounds; we’re reshaping how young people see themselves, their schools, and their future. These projects prove that when education, environment, and art come together, entire communities are lifted.

Shout out to Cool Schools and Texas Trees for continuing to be beacons of light and transformation for our youth. The Walls Project is honored to stand in this work collectively, building a brighter, greener, and more vibrant future for South Dallas schools.