Pacific View Leadership Elementary Celebrates Opening of New Grass Playfield

A new grass playfield is officially open to students in Paradise Hills. 

Students at Pacific View Leadership Elementary School celebrated Friday with a student-led Pledge of Allegiance, remarks from school and district leaders, a ceremonial ribbon cutting with confetti, and a schoolwide recess as students and familiies were welcomed onto the new field for the first time.

Replacing a decomposed granite field, the new two-acre grass playfield at Pacific View Leadership Elementary includes an asphalt walking path, trees and landscaping, a drinking fountain, and fencing to separate school and public areas.

“This new field is an investment in our students’ health, wellness, and sense of community,” said San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Fabi Bagula. “We are proud to continue our partnership with the City of San Diego to create safe, high-quality spaces where students can learn, play, and thrive during the school day, and where families can gather after hours.”

Funded, designed, and constructed by San Diego Unified, the project is part of the City’s Play All Day parks program, which expands access to green space in communities across San Diego. Through this joint-use partnership, the field serves Pacific View Leadership Elementary students during the school day and will be open in late spring 2026 to the community as a neighborhood park during evenings, weekends, and school breaks. The joint-use field is now open for student use and will open for public use as a community park after school hours later in the spring. 

“Access to safe, welcoming green space is essential for our students and families,” said Board of Education Trustee Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne. “This project reflects our commitment to equity and ensuring that every community has spaces that support recreation, connection, and opportunity.”

The field was constructed as part of a broader campus-wide modernization. The Pacific View Leadership Elementary School Whole Site Modernization project transformed the campus into a more welcoming learning environment for students and staff. The project included upgrades to classrooms, restrooms, and support spaces across campus, along with improvements to essential building systems, including security, electrical, and plumbing.

As part of the modernization, existing school buildings were renovated to support today’s educational needs, including updated kindergarten classrooms, improved learning spaces, and enhancements to the auditorium and food service areas. The administrative area was also expanded and reconfigured to better serve students, families, and staff.

To create more open and functional outdoor space, aging portable classrooms were removed and replaced with new site improvements. Exterior upgrades included improved student drop-off and pick-up areas, a new parking lot, and accessible pathways throughout the campus to ensure safe and easy access for all.