Publications

Summer 2001 Newsletter

Project Updates

The number of projects that are using the theory of linking schools, open space, libraries, etc. is growing. Please find listed below an update of some of the projects currently in progress (or recently finished) that are using this theory effectively:

Adams Elementary--San Diego, CA

City Heights was a heavily blighted area in need of revitalization. A portion of that overall revitalization was put in motion through a joint-use plan where the elementary school leases space from a nearby private building (which was built to DSA compliance and received a low-interest mortgage because of the district's involvement). The current plan is for the school to lease the building for 8-years--a timeline which repays the private entities loan in full. At that end of that lease the building will either continue to be leased by the school for ancillary teaching space or will revert back to office, retail or even private school use to further aid in the neighborhoods revitalization. (For additional commentary on the City Heights project see page 10)

Tule Elk Park--San Francisco, CA

The Tule Elk Park provides over 200 children daily with an outdoor schoolyard allowing them to make a connection with, and learn from, the natural environment. The once asphalt schoolyard is now a place where students are advised as to the importance of the environment through direct interaction with plants, composting bins and butterfly gardens. Additional components of the park's design incorporate sound for children with impaired eyesight and texture for autistic kids. While the primarily purpose of the park it to serve the pre-school through third grade attendees of The Tule Elk Children's Center, it also doubles as needed community open space.

Eagle Rock High--Eagle Rock, CA

In May 1999 the Eagle Rock High School was paying $5000 per year for the use of Occidential College's swimming facilities, some 2 miles away. A city owned pool was located directly across the street from the school, yet gated and only used in summer. After almost two years of meetings and negotiatians between the School District, Council District and Dept. of Rec. & Parks the high school now uses the pool for its swimming team to practice in, has incorporated swimming into the physical education component of the school's curriculum and is currently looking to add a city lifeguard training program to qualify students for summer employment at pools around the city.

Garfield High School--San Diego, CA

San Diego Unified needed to expand some of its facilities in the Downtown area. However, they were concerned that expansion into the Downtown market would adversely effect the city's tax base. To combat those concerns, the District entered into a ground lease with the a nearby Community College campus near Downtown. The shared space now allows Garfield High School the necessary room for expansion. And the proximity has expanded the school's curriculum, which now offers students the option of taking collegiate level classes their senior year.

Bela Vista Park--Oakland,CA

The Trust for Public Land is currently applying for state funding for a joint-use project in east Oakland called Bela Vista Park. The park is located next to an elementary school and is in great need of upgrades and greening. The school currently uses the park for its recess and Physical Education needs and would continue to do so afterwards. Unfortunately, the current energy crisis has forced creative projects like Bela Vista onto the "back-burner" resulting in the funding for this project begin put on hold.

Chutters General Store--Littleton, NH

Chutters general store had recently attempted to start an online business. The on-line demand was so great, that they were forced to shut down the site almost immediately for lack of staffing. At roughly the same time, the town began to look at ways to expand some of its facilities into underutilized space on their downtown Main Street, the Chutters facility was targetted as having unused space in its basement, enough to house a classroom. Chutters invited the high school's vocational education program to move their marketing program into their store and have its marketing class reinstate the online business. The school district got a classroom--valued at $100,000--for free and now has space to start a Geographic Information Systems class.

Florence Elementary--San Diego, CA

The Florence Elementary School has recently begun a dialogue with the City of San Diego to create a joint-use facility between the school and a public library in the Hillcrest area of San Diego. This project has only recently begun, but has seen productive discussion from all involved and should be one to watch in the coming months.

Want everyone to know about your joint-use project? Send updates to Director, Attn: Joint-Use, New Schools-Better Neighborhoods, 811 W. Seventh Street, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90017.