Construction is underway on the future Salk Neighborhood Park & Joint-Use Facility in Mira Mesa. Mayor Todd Gloria, City Councilmember Chris Cate, San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Lamont Jackson and Board of Education Vice President Sabrina Bazzo joined City staff and residents at a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the highly anticipated project.

Developed in partnership with the San Diego Unified School District, the plans for this $11.28 million project will provide an approximately 4.1-acre park. The land that the park will be built on consists of approximately 2 acres of City land and 2.1 acres of district land.

“As mayor, I have been focused on delivering infrastructure improvements to every community – this includes new park space. We’re making larger investments in infrastructure and creatively finding ways to meet the needs of our communities, which is what this new joint-use park in Mira Mesa represents,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “With 2 acres of land from the City and 2.1 acres from the school district, we’ll have a new place for folks to get fresh air and exercise, walk the dog, gather with friends or relax in solitude and enjoy an improved quality of life.”

The joint-use park will feature a comfort station, multi-use fields, security lighting, shade structures, improved landscaping, stormwater runoffs, adult fitness equipment, bike racks, fencing and more. The construction will also feature new shade structures and upgrades to the existing dog park at Maddox Park, located directly north of the project site.

"Mira Mesa residents and the students at Jonas Salk Elementary School have waited a very long time to properly develop Salk Neighborhood Park, which will benefit the entire community for years to come," said Councilmember Chris Cate. "We're here today due to the tireless advocacy of those in the community who have shown up time and again on behalf of this important neighborhood gem, and I'm excited to turn our shared vision of what could be into a reality."

The City and San Diego Unified have been cooperating in the joint use of numerous recreational facilities since 1948. Through the Play All Day Parks Program, there are 102 joint-use parks with another 10 joint-use sites in construction and nine joint-use sites in design. As a result, Play All Day is one of the country’s most extensive joint-use programs.

Under these joint-use park agreements, San Diego Unified retains its land while the City assists in maintaining the facilities, which are used exclusively by students during school hours and opened for residents after the school day ends and during school breaks.

“Having grass fields like these will enhance the lives of Jonas Salk Elementary School students in many positive ways,” said Sabrina Bazzo, San Diego Unified School District Board of Education Vice President. “Along with their students, P.E. teachers will have more room for sports, team building and exercise. It’s a win-win.”

The partnership between the City and the school district helps increase the amount of park land and provides more recreational opportunities for students and all San Diegans, especially in urban communities without much vacant land available to provide space for new parks.

Construction on Salk Neighborhood Park is expected to be completed in February 2024.