Alain Locke Elementary Schoolyard Drone Imagery
The brand new Alain Locke Schoolyard design
Aerial Filming + Drone Documentation for a Community-Driven Schoolyard Transformation
Project Overview
Located in the West Philadelphia Promise Zone, Alain Locke Elementary serves as a vital community anchor for students and families in an underserved neighborhood. In partnership with The Trust for Public Land and OLIN, the schoolyard underwent a complete redesign—transforming a cracked, underutilized asphalt lot into a vibrant, green, and welcoming space for play, learning, and gathering.
McNaught Design was brought on to document the grand opening event and capture aerial footage that highlighted the dramatic before-and-after of this urban renewal effort.
Aerial plan view of the new playground design
Drone flyover of the Alain Locke Schoolyard in Philadelphia by McNaught Design
Our Role & Process
1. Pre-Flight Planning
Coordinated with TPL and OLIN to understand key moments of the grand opening event.
Conducted an on-site flight review to ensure FAA compliance, safety protocols, and optimal angles.
2. Aerial Videography
Captured cinematic drone footage of the newly completed schoolyard.
Focused on design features like:
Green infrastructure and stormwater elements
Play areas and colorful surfacing
Gathering spaces for students and families
Filmed during event day to capture live energy, including speeches, student participation, and ribbon cutting.
3. Post-Production & Delivery
Edited footage into multiple formats for use across social media, presentations, and press outreach.
Delivered raw and edited clips for ongoing storytelling by TPL and OLIN.
Alain Locke Schoolyard with the Philadelphia skyline in the background
Why This Project Matters
This project was more than a landscape redesign—it was a public space equity initiative, rooted in community input and youth needs. The new schoolyard offers:
Safe, shaded places for outdoor learning
Green space in a neighborhood that lacked access
A shared resource for the broader community outside school hours
Our aerial footage played a key role in telling the story visually—showing stakeholders the real, human impact of the work.
Alain Locke Schoolyard in context