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$1M FIELD FOR LOCAL BASEBALL CLUB From SCHOOL BOND FUNDS It’s a delight to see the new baseball field at Torrey Hills Elementary School. DMUSD’s unveiling outperformed expectations - much of the lead-up was underplayed and even a bit ho-hum, similar to the initial project description below that doesn’t even mention baseball. DMUSD actually hit … Continue reading ⚾️DMUSD steps up to the plate⚾️

Shores Park in downtown Del Mar is next at risk in the battle to save Del Mar's outdoor playfields.  As my letter below to the City Council explains, it's in the crosshairs of the affordable housing fight that has overtaken Del Mar. As you should expect, we'll work to save it. John GartmanPresident

KPBS just broke the news: playgrounds in California can now open! Hooray! Help us spread the word. According to KPBS, "[t]he change came after KPBS found that public playgrounds in the state were closed indefinitely and officials had no plans to reopen them. This prompted state Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez [of San Diego] to write a … Continue reading BREAKING: Outdoor Playgrounds Can Open 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🌳👏

Today’s Del Mar Times brings us the current status of the new community public park that will be built in Pacific Highlands Ranch (PHR) - adjacent the new DMUSD elementary school. Pardee Homes and the City of San Diego allocated $8 million for the six acre park. Sweet. PHR is enthralled - with debates raging … Continue reading Lucky Them (Where Del Mar Went Wrong)

I've pasted below the introduction to a study recently completed and released by Surf Sports. They say it offers a path forward for all outdoor youth sports in San Diego. Here's a link to the full white paper. Outdoor play opportunities have definitely decreased, so we are keeping our ear to the ground, trying to … Continue reading Limited COVID-19 spread during outdoor youth sports in San Diego

The Great American Outdoors Act became law yesterday. It is one of the most important pieces of outdoor and environmental legislation in our nation’s history. The act passed with rare bipartisan support, gaining even the President’s last minute flip and signature. National youth sports and outdoor leaders were jumping with joy today, as were those … Continue reading Great American Outdoors Act – landmark legislation

Yesterday’s announcement spread like wildfire throughout Carmel Valley and Del Mar - that LA and San Diego school districts would be online-only starting in the Fall. Local DMUSD elementary school parents have been on edge for months, wondering if DMUSD would waver on in-person school, and the LA/San Diego announcement stoked the flames. Parents are … Continue reading Use all DMUSD fields and blacktop for outdoor classrooms – save the school year for our kids

On Tuesday May 14, DMUSD trustees voted to move forward with the new Heights’ school design by certifying their CEQA documents – demolition as early as late June. The board vote was unanimous and without a single alteration of plans in response to legitimate citizen and public agency concerns about fields, wildfire evacuation, traffic, impacts … Continue reading A good fight

Little did I know when we started Play Outside’s campaign to save the Heights’ playfields, that we’d end up right where we started - correcting an important public falsehood by DMUSD. Before going there, I hope all of you and your families and loved ones are safe and healthy and that things stay that way … Continue reading DMUSD’s latest public falsehood – April 14 board meeting

Over the last six months, we’ve worked incredibly hard to bring you accurate, irrefutable facts and honest opinions. We value the reputation we have earned from this body of work. Lately, a few citizens have made false accusations about Play Outside Del Mar and its founders - spreading them by foot, phone, and social media … Continue reading Q&A – now available