The concept is to make classes and the playground accessible to the public, but only during specific hours for security reasons. The School Contract initiative was established by Perspectives.brussels in 2017 with the goal of integrating schools into neighborhoods and allowing the use of their facilities following school hours. Architect and urban planner Valeria Cartes Leal is heading the project.
A legal framework is being developed that would allow groups, such as associations searching for space, to use the facilities. Usage contracts would be established by a manager to ensure safety, maintenance, and upkeep of the premises. This is what the municipality of Ixelles intends to establish.
Johanna de Villers predicts a management plan will need to be established for these spaces as they will cater to children ranging from kindergarten to secondary school. The accommodations will have separate entrances, and shared spaces like the hall or playground will be equipped with a security system to provide secure access. The sports halls can be accessed through multiple entrances, including one connected to the crèche.
The idea is therefore to open the classes, the playground to the public but not at all times of the day and night. This remains framed for obvious security issues.
Perspectives.brussels, the regional expertise office which studies territorial development, has set up the School contract since 2017 which aims to better integrate schools into neighborhoods and to open infrastructures outside school hours. Valeria Cartes Leal, architect and urban planner, is the project manager.
“First, we are working on a legal framework that allows certain actors, such as associations looking for premises, to have certain equipment available. It is therefore open to the neighborhood but there is a manager who sets up contracts for the use of the premises. The idea is to guarantee the safety, maintenance and good condition of the playground, gym or performance hall.”
This is what the municipality of Ixelles must put in place. “We must imagine a management plan for these spaces”, predicts Johanna de Villers. “It is not always obvious. Here, we are going to have pupils from the first kindergarten to the 6th secondary, so we have to think carefully regarding the spaces and the circulation.”
Comment ? “The accommodations will have their entrance totally separate”, explains the project manager. “The toy library too. As for the shared spaces such as the hall, the foyer, the playground, there is a security system which allows everything to be closed. Ditto for the sports halls: there will be a way to enter them by the crèche but also by another entry at the weekend.”
In conclusion, the integration of schools into neighborhoods and the opening of school infrastructures outside school hours is a promising initiative that might bring communities together and enhance public spaces. However, ensuring the safety and maintenance of these areas remains crucial. The School Contract implemented by Perspectives.brussels is a step in the right direction, providing a legal framework and project management for these activities. As more municipalities follow this example, it will be interesting to see the increased opportunities for interaction and engagement within communities.
