San Diego Unified opens newest joint

Kearny High School basketball players joined Taft Middle School students Monday to open Serra Mesa's newest joint-use park with city and school district officials.

Located on Gramercy Drive in Serra Mesa, the 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.

"It's a complete transformation and our students and staff are thrilled to have a grass playfield to run, walk and play," Taft Middle School Principal Hortencia Garcia-Rubio said.

San Diego Unified School District built the park with local bond funds from its capital improvement program, with contributions from the city. 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," Board of Education Vice President Shana Hazan said.

The new field at Taft joins 92 other joint-use fields throughout the district. San Diego Unified is building 10 additional joint-use fields and plans to build 27 more, according to a district statement.

"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," City Councilman Raul Campillo said. "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."

The park opens to the public after school hours on Monday and will be accessible to the community after school hours and during school breaks.