Ragwort

Green and gold

Violets

Creeping phlox

You might go to some parks and see what they use. Some seem to have a clover variety that does well. Maybe take a sample to
a landscaping nursery to
Identify.

Or contact the parks depart and ask to get in touch with whoever chooses the ground coverings.

Moss

You could plant goutweed and never see dirt again. It is impossible to kill.

I grow common violets in my shadier spots. They were originally volunteers but then I started dividing and planting them. They’re so pretty and can stand up to some traffic.

A lot depends on what kind of tree is shading it, OP, because different trees will make it more or less difficult to grow things underneath them.

You could do a lot worse than just deep mulch.

Anonymous wrote:Vinca minor?

Invasive, not native

Anonymous wrote:Vinca minor?

Not native.

Vinca minor?

Wintergreen?

NP here. Kids will destroy the foamflower but it is stunning when planted in masses amongst trees and interspersed with Queen of Night tulips.

You might also succeed with wood's sedge:

https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/carex-for-the-mid-atlantic-region/carex-woodii-woods-sedge/

Grasses:

Hobbs Blue Bunny sedge: https://www.rareroots.com/products/carex-hobb-bunny-blue-1?srsltid=AfmBOooJLAFY2gwlQs6_Z9d_IrQFWw1dXJDfMz8KfNq7-vWiNkcTGe4Y

Pennsylvania Sedge:
https://mgnv.org/plants/native-plants/grasses/carex-pensylvanica/

Seersucker Sedge:
https://mtcubacenter.org/plants/plantain-leaf-sedge/

Some interesting ideas for parts less stepped on:

Round lobed liverleaf (hepatica): https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hepatica-americana/

native Foam flower:
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=f990

My small front yard gets a lot of sun through early April, but as the leaves on the trees come in, it gets a lot more shady. Is there a native grass/clover/ground cover that would work well here? I just want some green down there (ideally that kids can walk on without destroying) instead of a dirt patch. Ideas?