School Description
Richard Castro School was built in 1993 in west-central Denver to replace the 1907 Westwood School building. The school was named after former Colorado State Legislator, Richard T. Castro (1946 – 1991).
Castro School has a strong focus on literacy. We believe that “Together, students, parents, and educators of Richard Castro School will meet the needs of all students by engaging in literacy experiences of reading, writing, listening, and speaking to develop successful, responsible communicators and life-long learning”.
Learning Landscapes Description
Located in a predominantly Latino neighborhood with extensive economic disadvantages the plan organized new opportunities for outdoor play with a strong emphasis on defensible space.
Richard T Castro Elementary School
Construction Date
May 2003
Landscape Architect
Architects by Design
Play Equipment Vendor
Play World Systems
School Garden Sponsor
Kitchen Community Learning Garden
Master Plan
Vision
Castro Elementary will undergo a radical transformation which will become a model for limitless potential for inner city school. Creating a landscape which not only provides a place to play for our children, but also teaches them basic educational concepts as well as social skills, the landscape of Castro Elementary will bring a sense of pride to the Woodward neighborhood while promoting social awareness.
Goals
The goals for this project are to:
- Intergrate learning programs into the landscape
- Increase shade in play areas and throughout landscape
- Activate the unprogrammed grass area
- Replace existing playground pieces and make playgrounds safer
- Enlarge the blacktop areaimplement natural barriers to seperate spaces rather than fences
- Improve drainage conditions
- Install vegetation that will provide shade and not be easily destroyed
- Create an enter/exit system in the parking lot
- Improve handicap accessibility
- Create a connection between the ECE and Intermediate playground
- Install lights to deter vandilism Goals and Program Elements
Design Development
Description
Located in a predominantly Latino neighborhood with extensive economic disadvantages the plan organized new opportunities for outdoor play with a strong emphasis on defensible space.
Illustrative Drawing
Design Development Drawings
Presentation Boards
Illustrative Plan
Construction Documentation
Description from Architect
Castro’s playground theme is based on colors and numbers. The asphalt court games are striped with bold colors and include mathematics in the four-square courts. A number walk leads students from the main building door accessing the playground out through the shade shelter between the two main play equipment areas. A color garden enhances the ECE play area with perennials and shrubs grouped by seasonal color. Colorful tiles created by the students decorate the seatwalls throughout the site.
Illustrative Plan
Construction Drawings
Play Equipment
Shade Structure