2002 Newsroom Archive

Didion School Ready for Groundbreaking
Friday, October 18, 2002, Noon, 6490 Harmon Drive

Sacramento, California, October 17, 2002 – Final preparations are being made for tomorrow’s groundbreaking for a new 8,000 square foot multi-use recreational center at Didion School.

The $2 million dollar project is being developed through a partnership the City of Sacramento, Sacramento Unified School District, and the Didion/Lewis Park Recreational Center Committee. The facility will provide much needed assembly and gymnasium space for both the adjacent K-8 school and the general public after hours. The Community and School Partnership Program funded this worthy effort.

The City’s purpose for doing this is to meet neighborhood and community needs for public facilities by improving, using or building on neighborhood school sites,” said City Councilmember Robbie Waters. “My sincerest thanks go to my fellow members of the City Council; Dr. Sweeney, Supt. of Schools; and the school board of directors, but most of all to all residents in the area that helped make this project a reality.”

The 5,100 square foot multi-use room will have a middle school length basketball court with two cross courts for practice and a regulation volleyball court which also has two cross courts for practice. Bleacher seating for approximately 100 spectators is provided and will allow the facility to be used for basketball and volleyball tournaments.

Adjacent to the multi-use room is a 1,000 square foot raised stage. A moveable sound partition wall allows the stage to be either opened to the multi-use room for productions, or closed for use as a separate practice/class room. Seating capacity of over 700 in the main room will provide adequate space for theatrical or musical productions as well as assemblies. The space below the stage provides storage for folding chairs on rolling carts.

Two features of the exterior are the student plaza and Amphitheater. The student plaza on the north side of the building has sitting height planter walls, which surround a large tile mosaic mural of the school mascot. This space could be used for outdoor classes and as an informal gathering place during lunch and recess. The tree lined stage and amphitheater is on the south side of the building facing the Park.

More than 600 students of Didion School will partake in the historic groundbreaking by singing several favorite turns, including America the Beautiful. The groundbreaking will occur at noon.