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The entire Arendal High School community, in the Norwegian city of Arendal, enjoys a new outdoor space designed for people rather than cars. The schoolyard was officially opened on 30 April 2026, marking the transformation of a former parking lot into a vibrant space for social interaction, recreation and learning. During the opening ceremony, students, teachers and local authorities celebrated a project that has turned an area once occupied by cars into a green and attractive environment for the whole school community. The redesigned space includes seating areas, an amphitheatre, activity zones and green areas, shaped through a participatory process involving students, teachers and staff.
The intervention responds to a challenge faced by many European municipalities: how to reallocate space currently dedicated to cars in ways that promote health, wellbeing and sustainability. As part of JA PreventNCD’s task on Evaluating car-free areas, employee parking spaces were removed and the area redesigned to better meet the needs of students.
A defining feature of the project has been the active involvement of students throughout the process.
According to student council president Sara Elisabeth Sissener: “It shows that the county has prioritized us students and our well-being, which I greatly appreciate”.
Students from the Arts, Design and Architecture programme also contributed directly to elements of the design, including the school's distinctive Sun Wave Wall. The participatory approach helped ensure that the new space reflected the needs and preferences of those who use it every day.
For more details, you can watch a video showing the transformation in our Resources section.
County Mayor Arne Thomassen was honored to cut the ribbon on Arendal High School. Credit: Kristian Leikanger, Agder County Council
A path for others to follow
The transformation also became an opportunity for learning and research. Students participated in activities linked to the evaluation of the project, carried out in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Early consultations showed strong support for replacing parking spaces with outdoor areas, demonstrating that young people valued opportunities for recreation, socialising and spending time outdoors.
Students using the new outdoor space at Arendal High School.
For Christine Mikkelsen, project leader at Agder County, the opening marked the culmination of more than two years of work.
“Seeing all the students enjoying themselves in the sun and making use of it is just absolutely amazing," Mikkelsen said.
Collaboration across sectors, political commitment and sustained engagement with local stakeholders have been key to the project's success.
The first reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. School staff report that students are using the area enthusiastically, while some teachers have already started conducting activities outdoors. Preliminary observations also suggest a shift towards more active and sustainable travel habits among staff, with increased use of walking, cycling and public transport.
Beyond Arendal, the pilot experience offers valuable lessons for schools and municipalities across Europe. By documenting both the implementation process and its impacts, the project will contribute evidence on how school environments can be redesigned to support healthier lifestyles, safer mobility and more attractive public spaces. As the team behind the pilot has emphasised, the transformation is not only about removing cars. It is about creating places where people want to spend time, learn and connect with one another.
Healthy Living Environments Communication Officer
Lluís Pascual i Vidal
Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of the Valencian Community (Fisabio), Spain
