The San Diego City Council has approved a joint use agreement that allows a field at an elementary school in North Park to be used by the general public outside of school hours.
With councilmember Todd Gloria leading the charge on the project in his district, the council unanimously approved the joint use agreement with the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) for the field at McKinley Elementary School, a campus located at 3045 Felton St. in the North Park community.
Per the joint use plan, more than 2.5 acres of park space will now be open to North Park residents outside of school hours. The SDUSD will make improvements to the field, while the City of San Diego will be responsible for operating and maintaining the joint use facilities for the entire term of the 25-year agreement.
According to Gloria’s office, improvements to the area will cost $2.2 million and will include a 2.52-acre natural turf field with irrigation and newly-planted trees for shade, a baseball backstop, a drinking fountain, a baseball backstop and an expanded asphalt-concrete play area with court markings.
The joint use area will also include a decomposed granite running path and security gates and fencing.
Per the approved agreement, members of the public will be allowed to use the rec areas inside the school fence 30 minutes after school is dismissed for the day and up until 30 minutes prior to school going into session. The area will also be open for public use on weekend and holidays.
Gloria’s office says an area outside the fence – which is popular among pet owners around the neighborhood – will remain open to the community.
SDUSD plans to begin improvements and construction on the site over the next few months. The park should be open by the end of the year.
Gloria said the agreement is a win for both McKinley Elementary students and families, as well as North Park residents.
“It is increasingly difficult to find new park space to add for the growing populations in our urban communities, so I am grateful for partnerships with the School District to optimize use of their space and make it available for all to enjoy when school is out of session,” he said in a press release Tuesday.