News

South Sunset is Open for Play

Question: What do you get when you gather 525 elementary school students, 55 hoola hoops, 22 soccer balls, 15 jump ropes, 10 hackie sacks, a 20-foot rainbow-colored play parachute and a revamped three-sport playing field? Answer: A rousing “hail to the field” shouted by the children, who just experienced the fun on the newly-renovated South Sunset Playground, located right behind their school.

The good time on the field was directly connected to an honor given to Ulloa Elementary School by the California Department of Education. Following a rigorous selection process, the school recently won the California Distinguished School Award. Only five percent of California schools are given the award each year. Ulloa was the only San Francisco school to receive it for 2008.

And, on a recent, sunny May afternoon, the school decided to celebrate. The festive event held to honor its students was attended by San Francisco United School District School Superintendent Carlos Garcia, Board of Supervisors member Carmen Chu, and Recreation and Park General Manager Yomi Agunbiade, among others.

As an extra surprise and reward for their outstanding success, the students were then allowed to be “first on the field”, when the newly renovated South Sunset Playground was opened the same day. After more than 30 minutes of surprise recess on the field, the students were treated to juice, cookies and their own hacky sack. Teachers were happy, the children were excited, and Ulloa’s principal was grateful.

“The newly renovated sports field at the South Sunset Playground is a wonderful improvement to the Ulloa Community as it adds to the beautification of the city block surrounding the school,” said Ulloa Elementary School Principal Carol Fong.

“Our teachers now have another potential venue where they can bring their students for an outing to enjoy outdoor activities,” Fong said. “Additionally, having numerous Ulloa families living in and around the neighborhood, the new field provides our students’ families with a wonderful cleaner, safer environment to enjoy after school and on the weekends.”

And a big thank you goes to the numerous people who worked on the project to make it happen!

South Sunset Playground is a project of the Playfields Initiative, a partnership between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and City Fields Foundation.