AP Giannini Stormwater Schoolyard Project
Overview
The majority of urban school sites in California, including San Francisco, have a high percentage of land covered by asphalt, concrete, and other impermeable surfaces, which creates significant stormwater runoff and other serious problems for the local environment (have you heard of Lake AP Giannini?). The goal of the AP Giannini Stormwater Schoolyard Project is to create a safe, usable, and fun schoolyard while increasing greenspace and capturing stormwater runoff.
This project continues a partnership between the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to facilitate schoolyard greening and stormwater management in public schools throughout the City of San Francisco.
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Project Background
What is Green Infrastructure?
Green infrastructure takes advantage of the natural processes of soils and plants to slow down and filter stormwater in an effort to keep it from exceeding the capacity of our sewer system. Click here to see examples of green infrastructure and projects constructed by the SFPUC.
We Heard from You!
It is important that this project incorporates input from students, school staff, and parents to deliver a new schoolyard for AP Giannini that will be loved and stewarded by the community. This is an opportunity to reshape how some parts of the school are utilized, and who knows better than those who use it every day?
During the 2024/25 school year, the project team conducted more than ten engagement events with students, parents, teachers, and SFUSD administration. The events, such as back-to-school night, PTA meetings, site visits, teacher and community workshops, and a student design charrette provided opportunities to discuss and build consensus within the school community for project goals and development. The school identified a soccer field, shade, multifunctional PE courts, and informal seating areas as priorities.
The proposed improvements integrate green infrastructure and community focused design across the school campus. Enhancements include a reimagined entrance with improved stormwater management, gathering spaces, a revitalized community zone featuring bioretention and flexible seating, and a multifunctional U10 soccer field with subsurface drainage components. Rain gardens and vegetated swales will capture stormwater from the parking lot, roofs, and campus collectively transforming the school into a more aesthetically pleasing and flood resilient campus. These features are intended to divert stormwater from the sewer system and reduce flooding risk, while providing outdoor learning and recreation spaces that support beneficial uses for students and school faculty.
Project Timeline
Planning Complete - Summer 2025
Design Complete - Fall 2026
Bid & Award - Fall 2026-Spring 2027
Construction - Start Spring 2027
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Engagement Opportunities
The project team continues to provide updates at PTSA meetings and other on-site events held at AP Giannini to connect with faculty, students, and parents to gather as much feedback as possible to shape design concepts. See a list of recent events below, and to review outreach summary documents please request these from our project team via email at GIProjects@sfwater.org..
November 12, 2024 - PTSA Community Engagement Meeting
Thank you to those who joined us at the regularly scheduled PTSA meeting for a review of the project scope, input gathered so far, and to share your suggestions!
December 4, 2024 - AP Giannini Faculty Meeting and Student Design Workshop
This meeting and workshop engaged school faculty and students on site to share project scope, discuss possible design concepts, and gather input which will help develop concept designs.
February 4, 2025 - PTSA Community Engagement Meeting
Thank you to those who joined us at the regularly scheduled PTSA meeting for a review of the project scope, input gathered so far, and to share your suggestions!
February 5, 2025 - Teacher Breakfast Engagement
The project team attended this event with school faculty to provide a review of the project scope, input gathered so far, and to gather suggestions.
February 7, 2025 - Student Lunch Engagement
The project team participated at this event to provide a review of the project scope and gather suggestions from the students attending the school.
- February 20, 2025 - Musical Performance Engagement
- The project team participated at this event to provide a review of the project scope and gather suggestions from the students, parents, and school faculty.
Online
If you haven't been able to attend a meeting in person, you connect with us at GIProjects@sfwater.org. When providing feedback, please consider the following:
Share your thoughts on the suggested design concepts linked below under Project Materials
Share the ways in which students and school faculty currently use different spaces on campus, and your suggestions on how to better utilize these spaces in the future
When emailing us, please provide information identifying your input as from a current student, parent/guardian of student(s), or AP Giannini faculty
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Project Materials
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