A ribbon-tying symbolizing the joining of the YMCA and San Diego Unified School District ushered in a new shared multipurpose field dedicated April 18 at Pacific Beach Middle School.
PBMS ASB student Jade Muckler suggested varying the standard ribbon-cutting.
“Normally when you open something, you cut it,” said Muckler. “Tying the ribbons together signifies the partnership.”
The first phase of the YMCA-school district shared venture involved creating a joint-occupancy turf field surrounded by an asphalt concrete track. The new field is striped for multiple sports including soccer, field hockey and girls and boys lacrosse.
The project also included a new parking lot, new sidewalks, upgrades to staff and student restrooms in the Physical Education Building and new perimeter fencing. 
PBMS principal Kimberly Meng credited parent Jessica Tandy for  “her work on this project since 2009 without which this would not be possible.”
Meng added the new joint-use field “makes us a community and brings us together. What we’re celebrating is a partnership ensuring that we have a quality neighborhood school being the center of the community.”
SDUSD board member Michael McQuary said the district and YMCA are “building the collective capacity of this community creating a mutually beneficial way for the district to meet our Vision 2020 goal of a quality school in every neighborhood. Today, we are talking about this neighborhood in PB.”
SDUSD facilities planning and construction chief Lee Dulgeroff pointed out the field project was funded by Propositions S and Z, local bond measures approved by voters to repair, renovate and revitalize neighborhood schools. He noted, “Those are your tax dollars at work in your community,” while adding, “This new field is just the beginning.”
Future phases of the YMCA-SDUSD partnership will include: construction of a new two-story, 26-classroom building; improvements to existing buildings; relocation of school administration offices, renovation of the food service area, and three new classroom/innovation spaces in the library media center; campuswide upgrades to security, fire alarm, data and communication infrastructure.
A public pool is also planned at a later date.
The YMCA’s vision is to expand its presence in beach and bay communities by building a state-of-the-art YMCA fitness center to provide year-round care for local youth on the PBMS campus at the corner of Ingraham and Felspar.
YMCA of San Diego County president/CEO Baron Herdelin-Doherty said the joint venture “is all about families and bringing people closer. Where do people get closer? At the YMCA, and at schools.” He added the YMCA’s strategy is to nearly double the current number of people served countywide from “425,000 today to 800,000 by 2025.”
YMCA volunteer Lily Higman commented: “We want to bring families back into PB and stay in PB.”