At Baltimore’s Hamilton Elementary/Middle School, Graham Projects helped bring a reimagined schoolyard to life by serving as the pavement art installer alongside construction firm Plano-Coudon. Designed by Floura Teeter and shaped through community vision planning led by Parks & People, the project includes 6,600 square feet of custom pavement art integrated throughout the outdoor space, transforming everyday movement and play into colorful, active experiences for students. A winding path connects school entrances to different activity areas, while painted game spaces like an alphabet wheel, hopscotch ladders, four-square, and tetherball courts invite play across the schoolyard. A playground area with a rubberized surface adds another layer of safe, active space for students. The path continues to the northeast corner of the schoolyard to a natural grass field, offering open space for free play and group activities.
The pavement art was installed using the StreetBond 120 epoxy-modified acrylic coating system, chosen for its durability in environments with high foot traffic, such as schoolyards.. Graham Projects used a mix of texture spraying, backrolling, and detailed brushwork to balance large areas of color with finer graphic elements. Color samples were reviewed and approved ahead of installation, helping ensure the final work stayed true to the design while allowing for flexibility on site.
Together, the colors, paths, and play elements create a schoolyard that feels active, welcoming, and easy to navigate. The project highlights how pavement art can support safer school spaces while helping build a strong sense of place for students and the surrounding northeast Baltimore community.
The Hamilton EMS schoolyard was designed by Floura Teeter and informed by community vision planning by Parks & People.
Project partners: Plano-Coudon, Parks & People, Floura Teeter, Hamilton EMS
Production team: Graham Coreil-Allen, Melvin Jadulang, Liam Arbeiter, Lydia Milano, Mar Braxton, Zoe Roane-Hopkins, Maurice McCrimmon, Kirsten Pamfilis, Claire Pomykala, Fidel Carey-Realmo, James Year, JaVon Townsend
