Sanchez yard improvements Summer 2020
In June and July of 2020, Sanchez Elementary made a number of significant improvements to the play yard. The project included resurfacing and re-striping the asphalt surface, replacement of the basketball hoops, improvements to the Dr. Raymond Isola Peace Park, and installation of a climbing wall. See below for photos chronicling the work.
Many, many thanks to:
- DRYCO Construction, Inc. (our contractor)
- Salesforce Foundation (for grant to purchase the magnet wall and other supplies)
- Sanchez Elementary PTA (for supporting the overall project)
- Simon Reyes, District Architect, SFUSD Facilities, Design and Construction
- Mary Fung, Project Manager, SFUSD Facilities, Design and Construction
- SFUSD Buildings and Grounds: Carpenter Shop, Sheet Metal Shop, Paint Shop, and Plumbing Shop (we love you all!)
- Ann Marin, Sanchez Principal (for your calm and consistent leadership)
- Matthew Tozer (for striping re-design)
- Ana de Arce, Assistant Superintendent Cohort 1 and Regina Piper, Director Cohort 1 (for coaching us through the process in the midst of a pandemic)
- Fred Spitz, Sanchez Secretary (for site-based project management)

1st day of construction!
The DRYCO, Inc. crew arrives to identify and patch cracks and begin demolition.

Filling the cracks...
Here's an example of the large cracks that had formed in the asphalt over the twenty or so years since the yard was last resurfaced.

Work in the Peace Park
Lots to be done in the Dr. Raymond Isola Peace Park! The DRYCO crew demos the old composite granite path to make way for a new, ADA-accessible asphalt walkway. The boulders will also be removed to allow for more flexible use of the area.

17 Feet of Magnet Wall!
As part of the improvements to the Peace Park, when we resume in-person learning, we will be installing 17 feet of Kodo magnetic walls. This wonderful, STEM-intensive, product features a variety of ramps, balls, tubes and cups, allowing students to experiment with gravity, inertia and other scientific principles. Image from Kodo.

More Demolition
DRYCO makes quick work of old benches to clear the area where the climbing wall will be installed. Note the faded pavement paint and old basketball hoops.

Off to the dump
This took about 15 minutes...

Peace Garden path
is finished!

Work on the parking lot
In these photos the DRYCO crew works on the Sanchez parking lot, filling cracks and repairing the fence.

Ready for the sealcoat
By the end of the second day, all the cracks had been filled and the bases for the new basketball hoops had been installed.

Sealcoat complete
It took just another day of work to complete the sealcoat, creating a wonderful "blank canvas" for the new striping design, thanks to Sanchez teacher Matthew Tozer.

Another view of completed sealcoat
from the south of the yard.

Time for the chalk
Next step is laying out the chalk lines before applying the pavement paint.

Let the striping commence!
It's a bit nerve-wracking to see the paint going on, but luckily these folks are professionals. The colors really bring the yard to life.





Hoops are up.
They are so lonely without the students.

And they're adjustable
We love these hoops because they easily adjust from regulation 10 feet all the way down to 6 feet, so even our youngest students can enjoy them.

Last of all, the wall
SFUSD carpenters installing sixteen feet of climbing wall.

Tile installation
And last of all, SFUSD roofers put down the 4" padded tiles in the 90-degree heat!

Climbing wall is complete
Just waiting for student hands and feet!
This page was last updated on November 5, 2020