Photos and b-roll of the event can be found here.
Drone video of the completed field and a project fact sheet can be found here.
News Release
Taft Middle and Kearny High School Students Join District, City Leaders, and Community in Celebrating the Public Opening of Serra Mesa's Newest Joint-Use Field and Park
June 5, 2023
SAN DIEGO - Serra Mesa students and neighbors officially have a new field and park.
Joined by Kearny High School basketball players and district and city leaders, Taft Middle School students celebrated the completion and public opening of their new park on Monday.
Located on Gramercy Drive in Serra Mesa, the new park includes a grass playfield, a walking/running track, hardcourts for pickleball, tennis, and basketball, exercise equipment, new trees, benches, a drinking fountain, secure perimeter fencing, security lighting, and a parking lot.
The park replaces the previous decomposed granite field and aging hardcourts.
"It's a complete transformation and our students and staff are thrilled to have a grass playfield to run, walk, and play," said Hortencia Garcia-Rubio, Principal of Taft Middle School.
Part of the Play All Day partnership with the City of San Diego, San Diego Unified built the park through local bond funds from its capital improvement program, with contributions from the city as well. Once the park opens to the public, the city will maintain the field.
"This incredible new joint-use field is a win-win for our entire community, it benefits our students and residents alike," said Board of Education Vice President Shana Hazan.
The new field at Taft Middle is one of 93 joint-use fields. San Diego Unified is building 10 additional joint-use fields and plans to build 27 more.
"Providing new park space for the Serra Mesa community is critical to ensuring that all residents have equal access to a safe and healthy environment," said Councilmember Raul Campillo. "Working in partnership with San Diego Unified is just good government. I look forward to taking advantage of all the new amenities along with the students of Taft Middle School, and the residents of Serra Mesa."
A 6th through 8th-grade campus, Taft offers classes in Spanish, theater, art, common core mathematics, and engineering. As part of its Prime Time option, Taft offers before-and-after school programs in extracurricular activities and tutoring.
First led by Principal and San Diego Unified School District's notable Eugene Brucker, Taft Middle School opened its doors to the Serra Mesa community in 1962.
The park opens to the public after school hours on Monday, June 5, 2023, and will be accessible to the community after school hours and during school breaks.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jamie Ries, Information Services Specialist, San Diego Unified, 619-855-9283, jries@sandi.net.
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