Schools Get New Playfields, Communities Get New Parks as Play All Day Expands Across San Diego
SAN DIEGO - The Play All Day Parks Program continues to expand access to green space in communities all across San Diego, as several new joint-use parks recently opened for public use while others started construction.
From Skyline to University City, these new playfields and community parks are built in partnership with the City of San Diego after extensive community input processes.
“The expansion of the Play All Day program was so well timed,” said Superintendent Cindy Marten. “These fields are crucial to student and community wellness as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, giving families space to safely get outdoors.”
VIEW: Map of Newly Completed and Newly Started Joint-Use Fields
The highly anticipated joint-use fields at Audubon K-8, Longfellow Spanish Immersion Magnet and Horton Elementary recently opened for public use while new playfields at Rolando Park, Marie Curie and Sequoia elementary schools recently began construction. Construction on a new playfield at Innovation Middle is halfway complete, and major joint-use improvements at Standley Middle began in early fall.
RELATED: New Play All Day Park Comes to College East
At Horton Elementary, a space for community art was integrated into the project. The Urban Collaborative Project, a local effort to beautify urban communities, recently painted the space with a mural.
Pictured: Newly Painted Mural at Horton Elementary School
Just northeast of Horton Elementary, the upcoming joint-use park at Rolando Park Elementary is converting two large decomposed granite fields overlooking canyons into two grass playfields.
“The Rolando Park Elementary joint-use field will play an integral part in the health and wellness of our community,” said Monica Montgomery Steppe, District 4 City Councilmember. “Now, more than ever before, we are inspired to exercise outdoors and I cannot think of a better time to break ground on this important community amenity.”
“The voters of San Diego chose to invest in communities,” said Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, District E Board of Education Trustee. “We are now seeing the products of that investment. Our students trust that we want to help them succeed, one playfield at a time.”
Pictured: Newly Completed Field at Audubon K-8
The fields at Rolando Park Elementary add to a successful academic year, with the school winning the prestigious “America’s Best Urban School” award from the National Center for Urban School Transformation, as well soaring Smarter Balanced State test scores. That’s not all, it also became a California Distinguished School.
“This park is going to enhance the overall experience of our kids here at school, and that will tie into their academic acumen as well,” said Rolando Park Elementary Principal, Anthony DeLuca.
WATCH: Rolando Park Elementary Virtual Groundbreaking, Featuring Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe, Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, the Rolando Park Community Council, and Rolando Park Elementary P.E. Students
RELATED: Longfellow Giraffes Celebrate First Stretch of Construction on New Playfield
In University City, Standley Middle’s Joint-Use Improvements project kicked off in early fall, on what will become a new and improved aquatic center and community park with an outdoor pavilion for school and community gatherings.
Pictured: Upcoming Joint-Use Improvements at Standley Middle School
To read more about these projects, and other bond projects, visit http://fpcprojects.sandi.net.
BACKGROUND:
San Diego Unified’s capital projects are funded by San Diego Unified School District’s Propositions S, Z and Measure YY, which are local bond measures approved by San Diego voters to repair, renovate and revitalize neighborhood schools. The City of San Diego contributes some design and construction funds, and will operate and maintain the joint-use facilities.
RELATED LINKS:
Play All Day Parks Program
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jamie Ries, Facilities Communications Liaison, [email protected]
Samer Naji, Facilities Communication Supervisor, [email protected]