Culver City Parks Task 8.1 Final Plan - Flipbook - Page 107
SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PARK JOINT USE PRECEDENTS
Houston, TX
The SPARK School Park Program works with schools
and neighborhoods to develop community parks on
public school grounds. Since 1983, SPARK has built
over 200+ community parks with 150+ currently
active. Each park is unique, with its design based
on ideas and needs of the school and surrounding
neighborhoods.
SPARK Parks are available for public use after the
school day (including after-school programs) has
ended and on weekends and holidays.
Figure 91. Children playground activities in public park at sunset in
Houston, Texas. Source: Trong Nguyen/Shutterstock.com
San Francisco, CA
The “Shared Schoolyards” program in San Francisco
was created in 2007 to provide better access to
open areas by utilizing schoolyards that were
not being used. The goal was to include at least
one schoolyard in each supervisorial district, then
expanding to almost 40 schoolyards that are open
every weekend. SFUSD now manages all aspects
of the program, including outreach, contract
management, and operations.
The Facilities Department in SFUSD aims to add
1,651,352 square feet (equivalent to almost 38
acres) of open space for the people of San Francisco
to use and enjoy on weekends.
Figure 92. People relax at Mission Dolores Park. Source: Tiago
Pestana/ Shutterstock.com
Seattle, WA
Since the 1920s, Seattle Public Schools and Parks
and Rec have pooled their resources to meet
the continuous youth and community demand
for developmental and recreation opportunities.
Around one-in-three public schools adjoin SPR’s
land or facilities.
The goal of the agreement is to maximize use of
facilities for mutual benefit, with the understanding
that the cost of use of the facilities offset each
other. Benefits include giving first priority in
reciprocal scheduling of each other’s facilities,
encouraging school principals and community
center coordinators to work together, and providing
opportunities for joint planning, problem solving ,
and information sharing.
Figure 93. Seattle cityscape overlooking ball field. Source: Kaidum/
Shutterstock.com
CULVER CITY PARKS PLAN 107
