San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) has partnered with the City of San Diego to implement a colored sign system at three shared sites within the district, starting on August 10th. The purpose of this system is to maintain cleanliness and safety at the sites, ensuring that both students and the public can use them.
According to the city news agency, these shared sites, open to the public during non-school hours, have been well-received, with people using them for activities such as dog walking and leisure. However, school staff have noted that some dog owners have not been cleaning up after their pets, leading to unsanitary conditions.
The new colored sign system is currently being implemented as a pilot program. Depending on the condition of the sites and the amount of dog waste, the sites may be temporarily closed for 15, 30, or 60 days. The signs will indicate whether the site is open, at risk of closure, or temporarily closed.
Andy Field, Director of Parks and Recreation Department of the City of San Diego, stated, “The shared site program allows the community to fully utilize outdoor spaces, especially in neighborhoods lacking traditional parks. We urge the public to work together to keep the sites clean and safe for everyone, including those who play, exercise, and bring their pets here every day.”
San Diego City has a total of 96 shared sites in the school district, typically maintained by the municipal government after being built by SDUSD.
Starting from August 10th (the first day of school opening for most San Diego Unified School District campuses), the three shared sites at Pacific Beach Middle School, Birney Elementary School, and Franklin Elementary School will be marked as “green status,” indicating that the sites are still open to the public.
Within 30 days, if there is one incident of dog waste, the color status of the site will change from green to yellow (indicating a risk of closure). If a second dog waste incident occurs, the site will turn red and be closed for 15 days.
After the closure period, the site will reopen in yellow status. If there are no further violations for 30 consecutive days, it will revert back to green status. However, if violations persist, the site may be closed for 30 or 60 days.
The city government’s statement reads, “The goal of the city government is to keep the shared sites open to the public and accessible for everyone. The collaboration with San Diego Unified School District expands leisure opportunities, particularly in communities with limited traditional park spaces. These sites also contribute to advancing the district’s goal of establishing quality schools in every community, providing resources, and meeting the needs of the community.”
If the pilot program proves to be effective, it may be expanded citywide in the future.
Pet owners looking for spaces for their dogs to run freely can utilize over 20 leash-free dog zones scattered throughout the city. Residents wishing to report instances of dogs not being leashed can use the “Get It Done” mobile application.