THE SITE: Alice Birney Academy of International Studies in San Diego's University Heights. |
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THE PROBLEM: Children aren't drawn to the playing field at the Alice Birney Academy of International Studies in San Diego's University Heights. The ground is hard, and there's no grass.
Katrina Peterson, whose daughter attends the school, next door to the San Diego Unified School District headquarters, said families have waited years for the district or the city of San Diego to do something.
School district bond money was used to install playground equipment. A stunning steel gate designed by two artists was installed in 2005 as an entrance to the parched field on Meade Avenue, but it remains locked.
Councilwoman Toni Atkins, who represents the area, found $700,000 in developer impact fees to develop the playing field for school and community use.
Peterson said parents were told that it would open late this year, but the estimate was pushed to 2010. Peterson said the wait is increasingly frustrating.
STATUS: Barry Kelleher, a project manager with San Diego's Engineering and Capital Projects Department, said the latest plan is to open the field by Dec. 18, 2009.
Kelleher said the city will soon start accepting bids from contractors; construction could begin in December and take about three months. The grass will need six months to establish itself before being used. Kelleher and an aide to Atkins said there is a chance that the field could be ready a bit before the planned opening.
In addition to the field, the project will include a walking track, disabled parking and access through the gate that will comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE: Barry Kelleher, who can be reached at (619) 533-5219 or bkelleher@sandiego.gov.
IT'S FIXED: The big bump on Silver Gate Avenue in Point Loma that we wrote about last Monday has been fixed.
Homeowner Jim Ogle offered his thanks to the Street Division, saying, “It looks like they did an outstanding job.”
The bump covered an area about 10 feet wide and 40 feet long. Some motorists drove on the wrong side of the street to avoid it.
WHO GOT IT DONE: Hasan Yousef, the city Street Division's deputy director, who can be reached at (619) 527-7504 or hyousef@sandiego.gov.
NEED A PROBLEM SOLVED: Is there a problem government hasn't fixed despite your complaints? Whether it's a missing bus bench or an unkempt park anywhere in San Diego County, Just Fix It might be able to help.
Complaint forms are at justfixit.union trib.com, or call (800) 820-8714.
