By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–A new joint-use soccer field and park are one “kick” closer to opening to the public.
On Oct. 4, San Diego Unified School District, City of San Diego, and King-Chavez Academies leaders joined student soccer players and the United Soccer League’s SD Loyal to celebrate the park’s grand opening in the Stockton community of San Diego.
Complete with a synthetic turf soccer field, an asphalt walking/running track, basketball courts, hardcourts with striping, and a playground, the facility replaces an old baseball field. The bond-funded project also includes newly planted trees, concrete benches on the sideline of the field, a ball stop fence between the field and play area, perimeter fencing, and several access gates.
“This is my second ribbon-cutting for a joint-use field as the new superintendent, and I will tell you – seeing these fields in person is rewarding,’ said Superintendent Dr. Lamont Jackson, San Diego Unified School District. “Watching students use these facilities that we worked so hard to bring to fruition is simply heartwarming. Every student and community deserves a park like this one.”
Bordered by Golden Hill to the north, Mountain View and Mt. Hope to the east, Grant Hill to the west, and Logan Heights to the south, the community of Stockton are culturally diverse, with unique small commercial centers and family-owned businesses.
“This joint use field in Stockton is a great representation of us working together to bring needed resources and benefits to communities that need them,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “I hope to see many more joint-use facilities like this across the city so that every community has the access to parks and open space it deserves.”
The latest soccer field in San Diego Unified’s subdistrict D, this project reflects a unique partnership between San Diego Unified and the City of San Diego through the Play All Day partnership and showcases the positive relationship between San Diego Unified traditional public and public charter schools, which also benefit from San Diego Unified school bonds. This field is a unique joint-use arrangement between the district, city, and King-Chavez Academies.
“San Diego Unified traditional public and public charter schools, and entire neighborhoods are being uplifted by San Diego’s choice to invest in schools,” said Richard Barrera, District D Board of Education Trustee. I cannot underscore enough the importance of bond measures in transforming our schools and the surrounding communities.”
The joint-use park in Stockton opens to the public on October 8. As part of the Play All Day partnership between San Diego Unified and the City of San Diego, the joint-use fields are accessible to the community as local parks after school hours and during school breaks. There are now 92 joint-use fields totaling over 350 acres throughout San Diego, of which were recently completed and 8 are under construction, and another 28 are planned.
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.
Funding for these recent projects is made available through Propositions S & Z, and Measure YY, which are local school bond measures approved by San Diego voters to improve San Diego Unified schools.
