The Washington Post spoke to UCLA Luskin’s V. Kelly Turner about a new push to turn asphalt schoolyards into greener spaces that provide cooling relief at a time of rising temperatures. Turner has documented surface temperatures of 145 degrees Fahrenheit on playground asphalt, and alternatives such as rubber and artificial turf can get even hotter. “Schools are basically shade deserts,” said Turner, associate director of the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation. Yet some districts have been slow to plant trees or install shade structures, citing funding, liability, maintenance and safety issues. “Everybody knows how to design a cool space: You put in more greenery, a ton of shade, you have lots of cross-ventilation. The problem is funding,” Turner said. “Are voters prepared to really pony up the money to make our schools safe for children in 20 or 30 years?” Turner also spoke to the Associated Press, CalMatters, Hechinger Report, LAist and The Atlantic about the impact of extreme heat on school campuses.