District and city dedicate joint-use field at Jefferson Elementary

Jefferson students test-drive the new field.

Superintendent Bill Kowba and Mayor Jerry Sanders joined Board Member Richard Barrera, Councilmember Todd Gloria, students, parents, school staff and community members last week to dedicate the new multipurpose joint-use field at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in North Park. The ceremony opened with the Navy Color Guard from Navy Recruiting Command San Diego, and culminated with participants cheering on Jefferson students as they began their annual jog-a-thon fundraiser on the new turf field.

The multipurpose field opened to the public Monday, April 16. The one-acre field, located on the southern part of the school campus, is a joint-use facility that will be used by the students during school hours and the public during nonschool hours. The improvements include a new multisport field using synthetic turf, parking and accessibility for people with physical disabilities.

The project cost more than $1.1 million. Construction was funded by the school district’s Proposition S bond program, money from which can be used only for capital improvement projects. Construction began in November 2011, and was completed in January 2012. Project partners were Mesquita and Associates (architecture) and Soltek Pacific Contractors (construction). The City of San Diego will fund and provide the maintenance of the field.

The city and the school district have a long-standing agreement to share school and park land to benefit both the city and the school district. The facilities shared by the city and the school district include multipurpose turf fields, lighted athletic fields, tennis courts, gymnasiums, parking facilities and libraries. In total, the school district and the city currently have 76 joint-use agreements.

For more information, contact Cynthia Reed-Porter, communications supervisor for San Diego Unified School District, at 619-725-5579 or creed-porter@sandi.net.