These updates have already had an impact on students’ transportation, athletics, and campus safety. One of the more notable changes to the campus is the renovation of the biking sidewalk along Churchill Avenue, one of the main routes students use to enter campus.
Students commuting to and from school by bike say the sidewalk reconstruction has made a difference. Sophomore Elias Perloth said that the renovated biking sidewalk will encourage students to use bicycles as their main form of transportation. “The ground prior to these renovations was very uneven and dangerous due to people potentially falling over and getting injured,” Perloth said. “The new renovations have very much indeed made biking into Paly very safe and comfortable.”
Beyond transportation, athletics also saw major changes over the summer. The softball field at Paly received significant upgrades to its turf and playing grounds. Sophomore Jorge Pinto Saldana, a baseball player who practices on the softball field, said the changes will benefit both baseball and softball athletes and are an indication of the school’s dedication to athletics. “Playing on a nice field will lead to a player’s confidence, injury prevention and overall having more fun,” Pinto said. “This change shows how the school cares about the athletic department because the softball field needed this upgrade.”
In the parking lot at El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road, there were major resurfacement and redrawing of parking lines. However, the newly modified speed bumps in the school parking lot at El Camino Real caught many student drivers off guard on the first day of school. Paly senior Ari Seeger said that the bumps had to be shaved down after damaging cars, which reflected poor planning. “My first reaction was that the speed bumps were noticeably bumpier and far more uncomfortable to drive over,” Seeger said. “The raised bumps make it harder to park next to them, and are not necessary.”
According to Paly Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson, the goal of each project was to serve a specific purpose that would improve campus safety and usability. “We wanted to provide an adequate field that would require less maintenance and avoid more rainouts,” Berkson said. “Parking bumps were added as people drove too fast in the parking lot. For the bike lane, it needed resurfacing, and it was a good time to get it done through the same company who did the Embarcadero lot.” Berkson said staff members were consulted about the softball field project, but student and staff opinions were not sought for the parking lot or sidewalk improvements. Looking forward, Berkson noted that there are no major renovations currently scheduled until a new bond major is approved.