Concrete vs. turf. Gravel vs. clay. You might think these things might not make a difference, but after wrong materials were used in the shot put area at the Earl Hansen Viking Stadium, the hard gravel damaged equipment and weeds were an ongoing challenge. Now, after two years of deliberation, it is undergoing renovations set to be completed by next week.
The Maintenance and Operations Department planned and oversaw the project. The department is part of the Palo Alto Unified School District.
In an email with The Paly Voice, Maintenance and Operation Director Mark Herrera stated the original concrete areas around the gravel “sector” have been replaced with grassy Ameriturf, and the gravel flooring of the landing sector has been changed to red clay.
According to Herrera, the project was funded by the General Maintenance Fund and approved by the Maintenance Department, Paly’s Athletic Director, and the Track and Field coaches. The construction was done by Sun Country Playgrounds.
Head track coach Michael Davidson said revamping the shot put throwing sector by the track was long overdue because the wrong materials were used to repair the turf during the COVID-19 pandemic, which damaged equipment.
“During COVID, they [construction workers] took out the entire turf and put all rock in there,” Davidson said. “I’ve been asking for the last five years to replace it with the proper materials, so now that it [the shot put throwing sector area] has the proper materials, it doesn’t tear it [equipment] up.”
Sophomore shot put athlete Hudson Deisseroth said he is excited for the upgrade, especially as the track season has started. Deisseroth is one of eight track athletes who specialize in throwing events.
“The new gravel is great, and the [throwing] markers are a big help because knowing how far you throw each time … is a great way to mark your progress,” Deisseroth said. “It [the new turf] looks a lot better, is a lot nicer [and] feels a bit more professional.”
In an email to The Paly Voice, athletic director Scott Davis said that construction of the shot put area began in the middle of January.
“We [the athletic department] had to wait for the football season to end because of the construction and it interfering with that area,” Davis stated. “The area needed to be replaced because the ground that was there was damaging the shot put equipment.”
According to PAUSD Maintenance Supervisor Francisco Sanchez-Santillan in another email to The Paly Voice, renovating the shot put area has been under consideration for the past one to two years.
“The existing area had deteriorated, with ongoing weed control challenges and gravel consistently migrating onto the track,” Sanchez-Santillan stated.“While the project was planned for completion before track season, recent rain has slowed construction, and completion by next week may be optimistic, but we are working to finish as soon as conditions allow.”
Physical education teacher David Duran said the construction impacted practices as it has prevented students from using the track.
“There was a day or two when we knew we couldn’t get on the track,” Duran said, “We knew when they [construction workers] were coming, they stuck to it [the construction schedule] pretty good.”
Davidson said he is happy with the change.
“It [the shot put area] is better,” Davidson said. “It’s easier to mark, to line out for meets, and it provides more space and area for people to be.”
Sanchez-Santillan said the final cost for the project will be completed once construction is fully finalized.
