The CPS Groundbreakers are a group of over 30 Chicago Public High School students ages 15 to 18 who design and install playgrounds. They have completed over 190 playgrounds totaling over $9.5 million. Students apply during their freshman or sophomore year and are selected through a competitive process. If hired, they can work through graduation. Students choose one of four internal departments and are responsible for all aspects of projects from design to installation. The program aims to provide opportunities for youth development through building playgrounds and strengthening skills like teamwork, leadership, and public speaking.

1. Groundbreakers – A Youth Initiative Playground Program
Overview of the CPS Groundbreaker Youth-run Business
The CPS Groundbreakers are a group of over 30 Chicago Public High School Students, ages 15 to 18 years old, who design and install
playgrounds. The CPS students who make up the youth staff team attend over 20 different high schools including ACE Tech, Al Raby,
Kenwood, Prosser and UpLift—just to name a few. The Groundbreakers are starting on their tenth year and are continuing to grow
and develop the business. The CPS Groundbreakers Program began in 2001 as the Playground Pilot Program with six playgrounds
and has now completed more than 190 playgrounds, totaling over 9.5 million dollars. Inspired by the program’s history and
outstanding youth-led practices the students decided to design and create a new name: CPS Groundbreakers, a Youth Initiative
Playground Program (Y.I.P.P.) In December of 2009, CPS Groundbreakers became a direct program of Chicago Public Schools in the
Department of Facility Operations. Our FY2011 Projects will total over 2 million dollars worth of playground equipment and
surfacing, and will be installed across the entire city of Chicago serving approximately 25,000 CPS elementary students.
CPS Students apply for a position during either their freshman or sophomore year of high school and if hired, can continue to work in
the program through graduation. The application process is extremely competitive. There are on average more than 1000 applicants
for the limited available positions made vacant by graduating seniors each year. Currently, the Groundbreakers are trained on
interview techniques, conduct interviews, and evaluate each applicant. Because each youth staff member has worked for at least
one year in the business, the selection process does not become a popularity contest. Every youth employee has put in many long
hours building playgrounds and many hours planning presentations for schools. Therefore, a good work ethic outweighs a good
friend in the selection process.
In line with the youth-run business structure, youth select which of the four internal departments they would like to be in: Human
Resources, Pre-construction, Construction or Design. During the school year youth staff meet with their departments twice a week
to complete all of the necessary tasks to keep the program up and running. Youth staff are responsible for all aspects of the project
including meeting with schools, facilitating the design of each playground, budgeting, scheduling, site planning and the deployment
and coordination of installation. Each phase of a project is facilitated by youth and all work on projects is done by youth, whether
preparing meetings agendas, facilitating workshops or building the playground. In order to be prepared for this challenging
assignment, there is a mandatory training program that each youth must participate in from late winter through early spring. The
training program is a combination of traditional workshops and hands-on training sessions. Youth staff both participate in and lead
workshops with professional facilitators. During the build season each department will coordinate and lead at least one playground
build.
While the students are learning how to build playgrounds, all activities of the youth business are designed to provide opportunities
for each youth’s development. It is understood that the business is not trying to turn out graduates in playground construction.
Rather, the core business of building playgrounds is a tool utilized to facilitate development opportunities. Therefore, the objectives
of the business are focused on youth development, while ensuring a quality product is delivered with each project. Below are the
key objectives of the business:
Students develop and strengthen the skills necessary for success in any employment or educational plan including, but not
limited to: critical thinking, teamwork, accountability, leadership, public speaking and professionalism.
Students develop skills related to jobs with organizations such as: park districts, construction contractors, playground
installers, playground manufacturers, and schools districts
Students gain an opportunity to develop an interest in fields of study offered in institutions of higher education, such as
architecture, child development, accounting, business, and engineering. This objective helps each student gain insight into
future career options.
Students develop a sense of pride in their work and a sense of accomplishment individually and as a team. This objective
helps the students to develop a great work ethic.
Each playground is custom-developed to meet the needs of each school. This objective ensures that each school receives a
playground that meets their specific needs.
Every playground completed by the Groundbreakers meets or exceeds all industry standards including ASTM, the Consumer
Product Safety Commission, and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). This objective ensures that all our playgrounds
provide a safe and accessible place to play.
Every school receiving a playground is able to favorably rate the project. This objective helps the students recognize that
feedback of their service helps them to improve.
Meeting these standards and objectives is an important aspect of the Groundbreaker mission. As a team we work to produce safe
and incredibly fun playgrounds that are built to educate as well as entertain, excite and develop youth in multiple communities. The
goal for the Groundbreakers in FY2011 is to serve over 25,000 students by building brand new, safe places to play and providing
improvements to the exterior environment of Chicago Public Schools throughout the city!