Title
Report on Alameda Recreation and Parks Department Partnerships with Alameda Unified School District
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Report on Alameda Recreation and Parks Department Partnerships with Alameda Unified School District
BACKGROUND
At the May 13, 2021 Recreation and Parks Commission, Commissioners requested a report on the partnerships between the Alameda Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD) and Alameda Unified School District (AUSD).
DISCUSSION
The City of Alameda (City) and AUSD have a multitude of intersection of uses and two formal Joint Use Agreements (JUA).
One JUA is for the Bayport Park Recreation Center and a portion of the adjacent parking lot both of which are located on AUSD property and are available to AUSD for use. The park and Ruby Bridges Elementary School were built together and designed to complement uses for the community and students. The students use the athletic fields and playgrounds on a daily basis and the community uses the school campus blacktop area on weekday evenings and weekends. ARPD regularly programs after school and summer activities in the Bayport Recreation Center.
A second JUA is for the swim centers at Encinal High School and Alameda High School. The school district is responsible for maintenance of the swim centers and ARPD manages all scheduling for community organizations and AUSD aquatic teams. The City and AUSD equally share the total costs for operation of the swim centers. This JUA is currently under discussion and negotiation. One primary point is a request by the City to utilize both swim centers during weekday school hours for the public. Student safety must be a top priority and with Alameda High School, this can be readily accommodated since the swim center is a separate facility at the front of the school with separate entry/exit points from the campus. There are safety concerns with the Encinal Swim Center due to two gates exiting onto campus and additional investigation is being done to identify any solutions.
There are several locations where parks and schools are adjacent with shared uses in which the community is allowed to use the blacktop areas on the school campus and the students use the playgrounds and athletic fields for regular Physical Education classes, recess and lunch. These include:
• Ruby Bridges Elementary and Bayport Park
• Otis Elementary and Krusi Park
• Franklin Elementary and Franklin Park
• Bay Farm Elementary and Tillman Park
• ACLC/NEA and Academy of Alameda charter schools and Woodstock Park
• ACLC/NEA and Academy of Alameda charter schools Longfellow Park (intermittent use)
• Edison Elementary
• Earhart Elementary
The Alameda Point Gym, athletic fields and tennis courts are also heavily utilized for AUSD athletic teams. According to the City Athletic Facility Allocation Policy, Alameda schools have second priority after City programs and before all Alameda non-profit organizations. AUSD pays the same fees as local non-profit groups. The following parks are regularly scheduled by AUSD teams:
• Lincoln Park is the primary field for Alameda High School Varsity Baseball
• Washington Park is the field for Encinal High School Varsity Softball and Junior Varsity Baseball
• Godfrey Park is the field for Alameda High School Junior Varsity Baseball
• Woodstock Park is the field for Encinal High School Junior Varsity Softball
• Alameda Education Foundation is a nonprofit that coordinates all AUSD middle school sports and utilizes the Gym and City tennis courts.
• In 2021, Encinal High School Men’s and Women’s Volleyball and Basketball heavily utilized the Gym but this may have been a one-time use due to completing construction of the Encinal High School gym and the pandemic which resulted in AUSD holding all high school sports in an abbreviated period from February through May.
In addition, every May/June all City parks are utilized for end of year class picnics for a nominal fee of $25 per use. Parks are also provided, generally at no cost, for school events such as Ice Cream Socials, Walk-a-thons, and the Krusi Park stage for Otis Elementary events.
The Greenway Golf 50-year lease agreement requires that Corica Park provide free golf for both high school teams.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from this report.
RECOMMENDATION
To receive a report on the Alameda Recreation and Parks Department Partnerships with Alameda Unified School District.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibit:
1. Public Recreation Facility Uses Between AUSD and the City of Alameda