Monday, April 23, 2018

MEDIA ADVISORY: Mayor Kevin Falconer and San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten Break Ground on New Joint-Use Park at Horton Elementary School

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Mayor Kevin Falconer and San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten Break Ground on New Joint-Use Park at Horton Elementary School

WHAT: City of San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and San Diego Unified School District leaders will mark with a groundbreaking ceremony the beginning of construction on a new joint-use field at Horton Elementary School.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 24 from 8:00 a.m. - 8:40 a.m.

WHERE: Horton Elementary School, 5050 Guymon St., San Diego, CA 92102 (Map attached: Media parking outlined in orange box, first come first serve. Event location marked with gold star.)

VISUALS: Several hundred students in a "rainbow formation", city and district dignitaries in a brief speaking
program, a groundbreaking ceremony, and an active park construction site.

GUEST SPEAKERS/INTERVIEWS: City of San Diego: Mayor Kevin Faulconer, City Council President Myrtle Cole, Park and Recreation Director Herman Parker. San Diego Unified School District: Superintendent Cindy Marten, Board of Education Trustee Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, Facilities Planning and Construction Chief Lee Dulgeroff, Horton Elementary Principal Staci Dent, Community Member Mrs. Ardelle Matthews.

PROJECT OVERVIEW: The Play All Day Parks Program is an exciting initiative to build over 45 new joint-use parks. This is an ambitious goal made possible by strong collaboration between the City of San Diego and the San Diego Unified School District to expand recreational opportunities in San Diego. The initiative strengthens the long-standing partnership between the city and the school district to maximize the shared use of public facilities and resources for educational and community use. The Horton Elementary School Joint-Use Natural Turf Field project includes installation of a new natural turf field, a decomposed granite walking/running path, a drinking fountain, security gates, and fencing. Existing basketball courts and play structure are included as joint-use features. Dedicated parking is provided in the existing parking lot. The new natural turf field and joint-use features are for community use after school and during school breaks.Students have exclusive use during school hours.

BACKGROUND: San Diego Unified's capital projects are funded by San Diego Unified School District's Propositions S and Z, which are local bond measures approved by San Diego voters to repair, renovate and revitalize neighborhood schools. In addition to renovation and replacement, bond projects include classroom technology, facilities to support College, Career and Technical Education, classroom air conditioning, safety and security upgrades, and other facilities improvements at traditional and public charter schools throughout San Diego Unified. Prop. S is a capital facilities program that is funded by a $2.1 billion general obligation bond measure passed November 4, 2008. Prop. Z is a capital facilities program funded by a $2.8 billion general obligation bond measure passed November 6, 2012. By law, the funds cannot be used for teachers' or school administrators' salaries, nor can they be used for maintenance or operations.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Samer Naji, San Diego Unified School District, 619-548-3388, Christina Chadwick, City of San Diego, 619-236-6330


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