Fox Canyon Neighborhood Association, Inc.

Park and Recreation Facilities in the Mid-City Area

PARK AND RECREATION FIELDS IN THE MID-CITY AREA OF SAN DIEGO

An Assessment and Evaluation of Park and Recreation Facilities

By Brittany Jessop and Matthew Hervey


A swing set squeaking on a playground, children laughing. The "thunk" of a softball as it is hit. The chant of sports teams as they prepare for a game. These are the sights and sounds coming from the inner city parks from daybreak to sunset. Crucial space it is, and in short supply.

Park land is crucial for many things, from the release of youthful energy to the quiet needed to garner energy. A park has the ability to make you feel you have escaped the buzz and pressure of a crowded city to find a moment of reflection, peace and relaxation. It is a place for exercising the mind and body, a place to have fun and a place to spend valuable family time. Whatever the need, a park has the potential to provide the solution. But to do so, the park land must be examined to ensure it has the facilities to meet the needs of the community.

This paper addresses the park space in the Mid-City Area, focusing on City Heights. It begins with the guidelines calculating appropriate park land, reviews methods of increasing the park land, and ends with an assessment of individual parcels in the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, the existing park land faces a number of challenges. It faces the same pressures as the high-density community of City Heights. Shortages, over use, lack of maintenance, reduced staffing, reduced budgets, lack of facilities, abuse. These problems require strong responses to prevent disaster. The disaster is overuse, leading to park decay and destruction, community dissatisfaction, abandonment, crime and despair.

The quantity and quality of the park land must meet the needs of the 80,000 people living within the City Heights neighborhood. In the City of San Diego (City), there is a formula for the amount of park land to be available to the residents. It is a formula based on the community's population and it comes from the City's General Plan. According to the General Plan, Recreation Element, the City’s goal is to have 2.8 acres of park land for every 1,000 people. Unfortunately, like many communities, City Heights has a deficit of park land when compared to the formula. This is common among older, urbanized communities which were planned and developed before current park goals were established.

In 2004, the City calculated there should be 229.40 acres of useable park land in City Heights. In reality, there are only 141.85 acres of parkland, of which only 93.00 are useable acres. Even this figure is generous since it includes the new elementary schools fields proposed for joint use.

The term "gross" acreage refers to all the land within the boundary of the park, whether or not it is developed. The term "useable" refers to only the area within the park that can be used for active or passive recreational activities which can be maintained with mechanized equipment. Useable acreage typically includes the flat or rolling surface areas used for open turf areas, multi-purpose sports field, picnic area, parking lot, playground, and basketball court. Excluded from the useable acreage calculation are steeply sloped canyons and open areas covered with native vegetation. Considering the City Heights' park land goal from the formula, there is an enormous deficit of useable parkland.

According to the City’s formula, there is a deficit of 87.55 gross acres and a deficit of 136.40 useable acres in the City Heights community. There are approximately 4.0 acres in a city block in City Heights (180,000 square feet per block, 44,000 square feet per acre). City Heights is missing the equivalent of 34 city blocks of useable parkland to support the current population’s needs. This is approximately125 football fields or the area bounded to the west by the I-15 freeway, the east by Fairmount Avenue, the north by El Cajon Blvd. and the south by Dwight St. This is a deficit directly affecting the quality of life for all San Diego residents and City Heights residents in particular.

A hidden factor not included in the calculation of the park land deficit is the loss of use due to a park being "Closed For Restoration”. Keeping parks closed for restoration and maintenance increases the deficit, creating additional pressure on other City Heights parks. It is not uncommon to close playfields in the City Heights Urban Center 3 to 4 months a year for restoration. This closure significantly increases the parkland deficit. Keeping fields open year round is important for not overburdening other area parks further, and for keeping the useable acreage available.

Increasing the number of parks will take pressure off of all the other parks in the same way that opening a new school helps ease overcrowding at the surrounding schools. The City’s Park and Recreation Department and Community Planning Group’s desire to develop more parks and decrease the restoration closures. They can do this by utilizing a number of methods.

One method to reduce the deficit is to negotiate Joint Use Agreements between the San Diego Unified School District, (SDUSD), and the City. With a Joint Use Agreement, the public is allowed to use school fields for recreation, but only during non-school hours. In a typical arrangement, SDUSD provides the land and in return the city installs natural turf and an irrigation system. The City then maintains the playfield by providing the irrigation, fertilization and mowing. A number of schools in the area have these agreements. But, the schools that don’t have Joint Use Agreements in the Mid-City area represent approximately 23.5 acres of potential park land. This represents approximately 17% of the deficit. Adding Joint Use Agreements to these schools will be a significant reduction in the park deficit.

The City and SDUSD prefer at least two acres of park land be governed by a Joint Use Agreement, but some fields are smaller. They prefer the larger fields because smaller fields require enhanced maintenance to keep turf healthy. Schools favor a Joint Use Agreement because maintenance costs shift to the City. The City favors Joint Use Agreements because they do not require the investment of money for land acquisition, yet they are able to provide recreational facilities to the community. Joint Use Agreements are legally-binding contracts enacted by City Ordinance for a term of 25 years.

Another method of expanding park space is to buy vacant land and develop it; however, due to the high-density population, vacant land is difficult to find, to say nothing of the cost. This alternative of buying developed land often displaces the residents which is contrary to the goal of the City Heights Initiative of improving City Heights for the current residents.

Another idea is to increase an existing park’s useable acreage by further development. This can be done by leveling and resurfacing, removing native vegetation and adding more facilities. This is typically an expensive process requiring the construction of retaining walls or the expense of soil infill or disposal, as well as environmental clearance.

Parks can be used for many different events and celebrations. By including adequate facilities, like restrooms, picnic facilities, barbeques and drinking fountains at existing park sites, the use of the parks can be spread out rather than concentrated. For some residents, the availability of adequate facilities may be the key factor in the decision of which park to host a specific event or athletic activity. In the event no facilities are available at one park, another park must be used. That decision puts more pressure on the park land with facilities, contributing to their overuse. The City has acknowledged this need for increased facilities in its General Plan, indicating it should provide “staff and facilities which compensate for deficiencies in acreage”.

The use of artificial turf should also be explored. Artificial turf typically consists of an imitation grass carpet laid over a soft spongy material like tiny rubber pellets. The advantage is increased use on a daily basis without deterioration. A facility with sports lights will lengthen the available hours of play without rapid deterioration as seen on a natural turf surface. These artificial surfaces typically last 10-12 years. The disadvantage of artificial turf is the cost of installation and replacement. These costs can be offset by the savings on water, fertilizer and maintenance. For the athlete, the artificial surfaces generally have lower injury rates because of reduced friction on contact. But, in the summer, they do get hotter than natural turf. This trade off between cost and increased use should be a carefully considered decision, especially in areas where increased use is not offset by an increase in facilities or maintenance.

On the bright side, an area southeast of the intersection of Home Ave. and Euclid will be developed as park land. It is currently a neglected lot and hillside which needs major improvements. Fortunately, in a few years this will be a 6-acre public park. This new park, including some creek restoration, is one of the many additions to park land that will assist in the reduction of the deficit.

From an inspection of each individual site, this assessment was prepared. With this information, the City Heights community planning group and residents can evaluate each park to determine whether it meets their needs. This document can also be used for the management of the improvements or addition of facilities for the creation of better recreation areas in City Heights.

1. Adams Elementary School - 4672 35th St.
This field is rectangular in shape and is located in a residential area. The size of the field is 2.13 gross acres and 2.13 usable acres. It is subject to a Joint Use Agreement and is overseen by the Adams Recreation Center. The entire field is covered in natural turf (grass) except for a baseball field, which belongs to the recreation center. The turf is in good condition, it appears there are sprinklers. Adjacent on the school's property are a basketball court and an asphalt playground. There are sports lights, but only for the baseball field. The entire field is fenced and is a controlled access area. The public is allowed to use the field only after school hours. Overall, the field is in good shape and did not appear to need a lot of improvement.

2. Auburn Creek (Proposed) - 52nd St. at University Ave.
The creation of this park area is currently under discussion. The proposed park consists of a creek area restoration. Development of this park is aided by the development of the Auburn Creek housing project because the Fox Canyon Neighborhood Association has negotiated with the housing developer to include the park and restoration in the project. It is proposed as a one half-acre trailhead into the Auburn Creek restoration area. The trailhead will include signage. There is no further information available. This is the beginning of a lengthy creek restoration project.

3. Azalea Park - Poplar St. at Violet St.
This park has approximately 12.04 gross acres and 8.33 useable acres. It is in a residential area and is open to the public from 6:00am to 10:00pm. After 10:00 pm the recreation center is closed. It is not a controlled access area because fencing with lockable gates do not surround the park. The ground cover consists of sloped natural turf, ground cover, bark mulch, asphalt and sand. The park is surrounded by hills. Amenities of the park include a recreation center, parking lot, playground, two basketball courts, restrooms, picnic benches, new tot lot and designated barbeque areas, but there are no lights other than security lighting. The condition of the park is good; there are sprinklers to maintain the turf. An onsite manager is provided by the City Park and Recreation Department.

4. Carver Elementary School - 3251 Juanita St.
Carver's field has a total of 3.2 gross acres. The useable acreage appears to be the same. It is located on top of a hill, away from near by houses, making the surroundings a half residential and half rural area. The shape of the field is rectangle and the ground cover is all dirt. There are no sprinklers, no lights and no restrooms. There are batting cages on the field and alongside the field there is an asphalt area with a playground. The field does not have a Joint Use Agreement and it is within a fenced, closed access area, only open to students Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. This field is in poor condition. Some improvement suggestions are to add turf, ground cover and restrooms.

5. Central School - 4063 Polk Ave.
Central is located in a residential and commercial area. The field has approximately 1 gross acre which is entirely useable. It is rectangular in shape and all dirt. There are two batting cages. There are no sprinklers, no lights (other than security lighting) and no restrooms. This field does not have a Joint Use Agreement. It is a closed access area and is only open to students Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 4:30pm. The field is in poor condition and an improvement suggestion is to make it bigger to accommodate the students, add a Joint Use Agreement, turf, lighting and bathrooms. The size of the park is smaller than ideal for a Joint Use Agreement. A small site requires more intense maintenance due to high usage.

6. Cherokee Point Elementary School - 38th at Wightman St.
This school site is presently under construction. The school should be completed by September 6, 2005 and will cost $28.8 million dollars. This development is a 6.7 acre
elementary school (700+ students) with 2.11 acres of joint use natural turf playfields. The fields will include dedicated use for baseball and soccer.

7. Chollas Creek Park Site - College Grove Drive
This park has 150.45 gross acres and 52.66 useable acres. It is circular in shape and the ground cover consists of dirt, shrubs and concrete. The park is in a rural area and does not have a dedicated athletic use. There are no lights and no sprinklers. Amenities include a playground, shaded picnic benches, a portable bathroom and several walking trails. The park is open everyday and closes one hour before sunset. A gate at the entrance of the park creates controlled access for cars. This is a rural park and it is in good condition.

8. North Chollas Community Park - College Grove Drive
This park is located around a 16 acre lake and is easterly from the Chollas Creek Park Site. This site has 146 gross acres. The ground cover type is mostly dirt and shrubs; there are no lights, no sprinklers and no dedicated athletic use. It is a controlled access area, but it is open to the public everyday and closes 30 minutes before sunset. Other amenities by the lake include, several walking trails, a playground, a snack shack, basketball court, fishing, restrooms and designated barbeque areas. This park is a very nice place to visit, and is in good condition.

9. City Heights Community Park - Fairmount Ave. at Wightman
This community park has 10.51 gross acres and 10.51 useable acres. Because of its location on Fairmount Ave., it is located in a half residential and half commercial area. The park is open every day and does not have controlled access. Amenities of the park include three baseball fields, tennis courts, swimming pool, performance center, recreation center, two playgrounds and restrooms. There is adequate room for soccer. The swimming pool, recreation center, tennis courts and the multi-purpose fields have controlled access, and the multi-purpose field has sports lights. Sprinklers around the park keep the natural turf green and it appears very well maintained.

10. City Heights Mini Park – 3033 39th St.
This mini park, described as such due to its small size, is mid-block on 39th St., south of Redwood St. This park has 0.32 gross acres and 0.32 useable acres. It is a natural turf park with a small play structure. No restrooms or lights. There are picnic tables, drinking fountain, disabled parking, and shade structure.

11. Clark Middle School - 45th & Thorn
This rectangular shaped field has 4.00 gross acres and 4.00 useable acres. It is located in a residential area, and its entire ground cover is natural turf. There are no sports lights and no restrooms. The field is subject to a Joint Use Agreement with the City of San Diego. Amenities on the field include batting cages and basketball courts. The field can also be used for soccer and softball. The overall condition is fair; there are several noticeable dead spots in the turf.

12. Clay Elementary School - 6506 Solita Ave.
This school field has approximately 2.30 gross acres and 2.30 useable acres and it is subject to a Joint Use Agreement. The field has controlled access and is located in a residential area. The ground cover is all natural turf, there are no sports lights, no restrooms and its dedicated athletic use is baseball. The turf is green and well maintained. It appears there are sprinklers. Other amenities on the field include two basketball courts, a playground and a soccer field. This site is only open to the public after school hours; during school hours only students can use the field. Overall, the field is in good condition.

13. Colina Del Sol Community Park - 5310 Orange Ave.
This park is located in a residential area and has an area of 34.12 gross acres and 23.88 useable acres. It is a controlled access park with an on site manager, the San Diego Park and Recreation Department. The ground cover is natural turf and there are sprinklers to maintain it. Facilities of this park include a recreation center, tennis courts, swimming pool, a lighted multi-purpose field, basketball courts, playground, restrooms and designated barbeque area. The center provides children and adult programs, swimming lessons and other activities throughout the year. There is also a golf course on the west side of the park. A high fence surrounds the entire golf course to stop stray golf balls from coming into the adjoining park. This park is very well maintained and enjoyable to visit.

14. Crawford High School - 4191 Colts Way
This field is located in a nice residential area with a total of 6.2 gross acres. The ground cover of the field is all natural turf and it appears there are sprinklers. The only amenities on the field are two batting cages; however, the field can also be used for soccer and softball. There are no lights for night games and no public restrooms. This field does not have a Joint Use Agreement; it is a fenced, controlled access area, only open to students Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 3:30pm. The field is in good shape.

15. Darnall Elementary School - 6020 Hughes St.
This square shaped field is located in a residential area and has 2.2 gross acres. The useable acreage appear to be the same. It is presently under construction, so it is difficult to see the full shape and size. The ground cover is all dirt at this time and there are no sprinklers, no lights and no restrooms. This field does not have a Joint Use Agreement. It is a controlled access area and is only open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. The field has two batting cages and a playground near by.

16. Edison Elementary School - 4077 35th St at Polk St.
This field is presently under construction and will be completed in 2005. The project is a redevelopment of an elementary school and will have a 1.25 acre artificial turf field and a Joint Use Agreement. Pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of San Diego and SDUSD, maintenance of the joint use field will be the responsibility of the school district in exchange for City-owned land which was contributed toward the redevelopment project.

17. Euclid Elementary School – 4166 Euclid Ave. at Polk Ave.
This small dirt field is surrounded by classrooms and is inaccessible to the public. A small play element for youngsters is available, but it is within the controlled access area unavailable to anyone but students during school hours. No public restrooms or sports lighting is apparent.

18. Franklin Elementary School - 4481 Copeland Ave.
This field is 1.42 gross acres and 1.42 useable acres. The field is in the shape of a square and is located in a residential area. The entire ground cover is made up of dirt and dead natural turf; there are no sports lights, no restrooms and apparently no functioning sprinklers. Two batting cage backstops are standing. It is a closed access area and is only open Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 4:00pm. This field is in very poor condition. Fortunately, expansion plans are already in progress and the expanded field will have a Joint Use Agreement thereby making it accessible by the public.

19. Florence Griffith Joyner Elementary School (2006) – 4271 Myrtle Ave.
This school site is currently under construction. Development plans for the 37 acre area include the elementary school for 700 students on 6.3 acres, and a proposed joint use recreation area including an artificial turf field. The expected completion date for the school is 2006. The surrounding housing and commercial development completion date is expected in 2007.

20. Hamilton Elementary School - 2807 Fairmount Ave.
This field is circular in shape and has approximately 0.9 gross acres. The useable acreage appears to be the same. The ground cover is decomposed granite and asphalt; there are no sports lights, no sprinklers and no restrooms. The field is in a residential area and has one batting cage for recreation. It does not have a Joint Use Agreement. It is a fenced, closed access area only open to students Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 4:00 p.m. The field is in fair condition.

21. Hardy Elementary School - 5420 Montezuma Rd.
This rectangular shaped field is located on top of a hill, away from nearby
houses, making it a half residential, half rural area. The field is 2.6 gross acres. The useable acreage appears to be the same size. The ground cover is about 50% dirt and 50% natural turf; there are no sports lights or restrooms. Batting cages are the only recreational feature on the field. It is a controlled access area and has a Joint Use Agreement so the public can use it after school hours. The condition of the field is fair. Similar to Hamilton Elementary, an improvement suggestion is to add another recreational facility such as a playground or basketball court, and restrooms.

22. Harriet Tubman Village Elementary School - 6880 Mohawk St.
This field is rectangular in shape and has 2.1 gross acres and 2.1 useable acres. It is located in a residential area and has controlled access. It is only open to the students Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. There is no Joint Use Agreement for this field. The field is all dirt and there are no sprinklers, no sports lights and no restrooms. Other amenities on the field include batting cages, basketball courts, and a playground. The overall condition of this field is fair.

23. Herbert Ibarra Elementary School – 4877 Orange Ave.
This school site is currently under construction. The finished development will be an elementary school for 700+ students on 8.26 acres. A Joint Use Agreement is planned for a 1.94 natural turf playfield and .75 acre park. The expected completion date is September 6, 2005.

24. Hollywood Park - Juniper at Sumac
Hollywood Park is 14.01 gross acres and 7.05 useable acres. It is
rectangular in shape and located in a residential area; however, it is down a steep hill away from the street and neighboring houses. The ground cover of the park is all natural turf and has a rolling surface. The park's only dedicated athletic use is baseball, but this uses only a fraction of the available space. There is adequate space for soccer. Other amenities include a basketball court, designated barbeque areas and restrooms. Unfortunately, most of the site is not lighted at night, only one ball field. This park is a fenced, closed access area and is maintained by the City Park and Recreation Department.

25. Home Avenue Park – Home Ave. at Euclid
Home Avenue, just south of Euclid, will be the future site of an approximately 6.0 gross/2.0 useable acre public park, part of the Chollas Creek enhancement. Proposed amenities may include active and passive recreation facilities, and traffic calming measures. The project cost will be approximately $3,000,000. Completion is scheduled for August 2008.

26. Hoover High School - 4474 EI Cajon Blvd.
Hoover's field is located in a residential area on 46th Street. It has 0.50 gross acres and 0.50 useable acres. It is square in shape and the ground cover is natural turf. There are sprinklers, but there are no sports lights and no restrooms. It is a closed access area, only open during school hours, Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 4:30pm. There is no Joint Use Agreement. The field's dedicated athletic use is baseball, but can also be used for softball and soccer. The field is in good condition. This site may not be feasible for joint use because the high school sports teams use the field for intramural sports, leaving no time available for community use.

27. Horace Mann Middle School - 4345 54th St.
This square shaped field is located in a residential area. It has approximately 3.90 gross acres and 3.90 useable acres and is subject to a Joint Use Agreement. The ground cover is natural turf; there are no lights, no restrooms and it is assumed there are sprinklers. The field has controlled access and is only open Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 4:00pm. Its dedicated athletic use is baseball, but it could also be used for softball and soccer. There are no other amenities available. The condition of the field is good.

28. Jackson Elementary School - 5465 El Cajon Blvd.
Jackson's field is located in a residential area and has a land size of 0.9 gross acres. The useable acreage appears to be the same. It is shaped like a baseball field and its ground cover is all dirt. There are two batting cages, but no sprinklers, no lights and no restrooms. The field is a closed access area, only open Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 4:30pm. There is no Joint Use Agreement in effect. This field is in poor condition; it is too small and there is no vegetation.
29. Language Academy Elementary School - 4961 64th St.
This charter school’s field is a total of 2.5 gross acres and is in the shape of a square. The useable acreage appears to be the same size. The entrance of the school is located in a residential area, but the field is located on Montezuma Rd. The entire ground cover is dirt; there are two batting cages, no sprinklers, no lights and no restrooms. Other amenities include a playground and “monkey bars”, which are on a padded surface. This is a fenced, closed access area only. This field does not have a Joint Use Agreement. The overall condition of the field is fair.

30. Marshall Elementary School - 3550 Altadena Ave.
Marshall Elementary is located in a residential area and has 2.4 gross acres. The useable acreage appears to be the same. The field's ground cover is all decomposed granite and there are no sports lights, no sprinklers and no restrooms. It is a rectangular shape and only has batting cages for recreation. This field does not have a Joint Use Agreement. It is a fenced, closed access area. The field is in poor condition.

31. Mary Fay Elementary School (2007) - 52nd Street and University Ave.
This future elementary school is currently in planning. It is proposed to have a Joint Use Agreement for a 1.56 acre natural turf playfield.

32. Mid-City Athletic Area (AKA Sunshine Beradini Field) - Federal Blvd at the 805 Fwy.
This field is located in a rural area and has a land size of 40.88 gross acres and 14.31 useable acres. It is the shape of a rectangle and has a ground cover of dirt and natural turf. The primary use is baseball games. There are three baseball fields, a few designated barbeque areas and restrooms. There are no picnic facilities and no sports lights. There is no posted closing time, however it is a fenced, closed access area, maintained by the City Park and Recreation Department. The play fields are in fair condition, but the land surrounding the fields is undeveloped.

33. Oak Park - 5235 Maple St.
This community park is located in a residential area and has a land size of 3.46 gross acres and 3.46 useable acres. It is square in shape and its entire ground cover is natural turf. Features of this park include a baseball field, a snack shack and walkways throughout the park. Unfortunately, there are no restrooms or lights for night games. This is not a controlled access area and it is open to the public at all times. The condition of the park is good; there are sprinklers to maintain the turf.

34. Oak Park Elementary School - 2606 54th St.
This square shaped field is approximately 2.0 gross acres. The useable acreage appears to be the same. This field does not have a Joint Use Agreement. It is a fenced, controlled access area. The field’s ground cover is made up of dirt and shrubs; there are no lights, no sprinklers and no restrooms. Its dedicated athletic use is baseball, but there is also a playground area. The field is in a residential area and is in fair condition.

35. Park De La Cruz - 38th at Dwight
Park De La Cruz is located in a residential area and is shaped to accommodate a baseball field. This park has a land area of 8.40 gross acres and 5.16 useable acres. A YMCA facility is located within the park and it has controlled access with an onsite manager. The YMCA provides a wide variety of programs for children and adults throughout the year. The remainder of the park is dedicated to baseball. There is a playground area adjacent to the YMCA. There are sports lights for night games, sprinklers to maintain the natural turf, and restrooms available during games. The area around the YMCA is not a closed access area. This park is in very good condition.

36. Rosa Parks Elementary School - Fairmount Ave. at Landis St.
This joint use area is 1.90 gross acres and 1.90 useable acres. Its location is adjacent to the City Heights Community Park, discussed above. The joint use amenities include asphalt hard courts and a parking lot.

37. Rowan Elementary School – 1755 Rowan St.
This approximately 2.0 acre rectangular shaped decomposed granite playfield in the southwest corner of City Heights overlooks a canyon. It is not open to the public and is a fenced, controlled access area. No public restrooms or lights appear. There is no Joint Use Agreement.

38. Teralta Park - Orange Ave. at 40th St.
Teralta Park is located in a residential setting and covers an area of 5.00 gross
acres and 5.00 useable acres. The ground cover is natural turf and there are sprinklers to maintain it. Some features of this park include shaded picnic facilities, a basketball court, a playground, and restrooms. It is not a controlled access area and is open to the public. This park is well maintained and enjoyable to visit.

39. Terrace Drive Park
There is no information available on this park. Reference to this park was found in the research materials, but it was not located in the community. A name change may account for the discrepancy.

40. Wabash Mini Park - Wabash Ave. at University Ave.
This small park has only 0.17 gross acres and 0.17 useable acres. It is the shape of a triangle and is located on the corner of a commercial area. The ground cover is all natural turf and there are no lights, no restrooms and no amenities other than one picnic table. It is not a controlled access area and is open to the public at all times. This park is not suitable for families and their children, it is too small for any recreational activity. Overall, the park is in good condition. Its function is to act as the western landmark for entry into City Heights.

41. Wilson Middle School - 3838 Orange Ave.
This square shaped field has 4.00 gross acres and 4.00 useable acres. It is located in a residential area and its ground cover is natural turf. Other amenities on the site include two batting cages, handball courts and several basketball courts. There are sprinklers, but there are no sports lights and no restrooms available. This is a controlled access area, but it has a Joint Use Agreement so the public can use it after school hours. Overall, the field is in poor condition.

Acknowledgements/Sources

1. Deborah Sharpe – Project Officer II City of San Diego, Park and Recreation Department.

2. Denise Weems - Park Designer, Park Planning and Development Division, City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department.

3. Barry Kelleher - Park Designer, Park Planning and Development Division, City of San Diego, Park and Recreation Department.

4. Trent Robertson – Principal Drafting Aide, Park Planning and Development Division, City of San Diego, Park and Recreation Department.

5. Jim Watts - San Diego Unified School District, District Architect.

6. Randy White - City of San Diego Administrative Assistant II, Acquisition & Asset Management.

7. General Plan, City of San Diego Progress Guide and Recreation Element.

Park and Recreational Facilities in the Mid-City Area Hotlink

www.pricecharities.com