The design of a naturalized site is what makes it unique.  Ideas and inspiration may be drawn from other naturalized schoolyards and natural spaces but the end result should reflect the needs, wants and identity of your school. It should be the manifestation of the rationale and vision of your project. 
To hear what the design stage entails, click here.

Design considerations unique to schools and students are covered in ‘Design tips’.

5. Survey the Schoolyard
To successfully redesign a schoolyard, you must understand the existing conditions. Start with the following:

• Create a basemap that shows north; property lines and dimensions as well as any existing structures and hard surfaces -  click here for an example.
• Perform a detailed physical site survey to investigate conditions such as slopes, drainage, wind patterns, areas of light and shadow, sightlines, utility lines and existing plants.
• Perform a detailed cultural survey to document the history of the site, patterns of use, safety considerations and vandalism concerns.

Click here for sample surveys and Resources for more information.

An inventory of the school grounds should be a thorough process as the results will determine the success of your naturalization project. Approach this as a teaching opportunity as virtually all activities can be completed by students. Refer to Curriculum connections.

6. Create Preliminary Designs
Bubble diagrams serve to establish a basic structure for the design by focusing on goals rather than details.  Using your base map and detailed site survey, start thinking about where to locate the elements of the project.  Each bubble drawn on the map will represent a function or purpose. Think about the requirements for each element with respect to the physical and cultural surveys.  Be flexible and experiment with a number of options.  Click here to see an example.

7. Select the Site
Present completed preliminary designs to stakeholders. Discuss the pros and cons of each possible design and allow all parties to provide input. Begin discussing how to divide the project into phases. By thinking big and starting small, the project will be easier to manage.  This phased approach can be explained in the preliminary design.

The diagram chosen should incorporate the vision, site inventory and needs of all stakeholders. This information should be shown to your school board representative before going any further.

8. Create Final Design
The final design must be drawn to scale and should explain all details of the naturalization project.  It needs to specify the structural elements (hard landscaping) as well as the kind, size, location, number of plants and materials required for the planting beds (soft landscaping). Consider things such as seating, lighting, irrigation, edging and signage at this time. Compiling this information will help you get the final budget numbers for your proposal. Click here for a sample budget.

When it comes time to construct and plant the site, the working drawing will be relied on by labourers and volunteers. If you are installing your project in phases, you may consider developing the detail drawings for just the first phase. 

Make sure this final plan satisfies the needs of everyone involved, then (again) seek approval from the school board representative. Naturalization committees are encouraged to carry out as much of the design process as possible, however, you may decide to seek the expertise of a professional. This can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on their level of involvement. See the Resources page and Map for information relevant to your area.