History of Tule Elk Park
In 1990, a teacher’s request to plant a vegetable garden in a small strip of dirt grew into a vision to “green” the entire schoolyard. It took seven years of hard work to remove the asphalt and build one of the country’s most distinctive learning environments. In 1997, the Yerba Buena Children’s Center was reopened as Tule Elk Park Child Development Center.
Timeline
1991 – Site Manager, Lynne Juarez, staff, and a team of volunteers develop a plan to remove all the asphalt and rebuild the schoolyard into an outdoor learning environment. A living model captures the Tule Elk Park Project vision that is displayed for the community.
1992 – San Francisco Conservation Corps begins demolition of asphalt around the school entrance and play structures.
1993 – The Center receives a grant from the Mayor’s Office of Community Development to renovate the school entrance and several grants from San Francisco Beautiful and local foundations to build the Talking Fence—the TEP story told through a series of pictograms.
1994 – Plants, irrigation, and benches are installed and the construction of the native plant area and butterfly habitat is complete.
1995 – Curriculum Steering Committee is formed to develop a program based on the environment and experiences of the children. Talking Fence receives award from San Francisco Beautiful.
1996 – Resolution passed by the Board of Education to rename Yerba Buena Children’s Center as the Tule Elk Park Child Development Center. Community celebrates the halfway mark of the Park’s construction with Mayor Willie Brown in attendance.
1997 – Remaining asphalt is removed. Totem carves are installed. Final project phase is in progress.
1998 – Tule Elk Park is complete. The Autodesk Foundation names Tule Elk Park a leadership school. Staffed by the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Park is open to the community on Saturdays.