U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) plants seeds with Polk Middle School students in their re-envisioned schoolyard, April 9, 2026. Courtesy photo

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) met with Polk Middle School students in Albuquerque to tour their re-envisioned schoolyard and announce introduction of his Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act, legislation to help New Mexico schools transform schoolyards into vibrant, nature-rich spaces for learning, play, and community use.

For many kids, the closest outdoor space is an asphalt schoolyard—offering little opportunity for safe play, shade, or connection to nature. Heinrich’s Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act helps address this by providing grants to schools and districts to transform their schoolyards into thriving outdoor learning spaces.

“Students learn in different ways. It’s not just about the physical environment: It’s about what is possible once you have schoolyards where you can learn how to grow your own food, plant pollinator friendly native plants in your community, plant trees that both clean the air and provide local, organic food,” Heinrich said . “My Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act will help fund schoolyards where students have gardens, plants, and a healthy mental health environment where they can grow. This an opportunity for learning by doing—and we want that to be the new norm.”

During Heinrich’s visit to Polk Middle School, students led a tour of their renovated schoolyard garden and invited Heinrich to plant flowers.

Students also gave Heinrich a tour of their Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) room—a space dedicated to fostering students’ critical thinking, creativity, and hands-on problem-solving skills.

After the students’ tour, Heinrich unveiled his Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act, legislation to help schools renovate schoolyards into green, community-centered spaces.

For more information on Heinrich’s Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act, click here.