Though Pittsburg’s newest school has been open since August, the green carpet is just now being rolled out. An all-weather synthetic play surface is being placed at Marina Vista Elementary School at the corner of 10th Street and Railroad Avenue. The approximately 68,000 square-foot recreation area will include stadium lighting, a full-size soccer field, and space for two baseball/softball fields. The school district plans to share the fields with city recreational programs as part of a joint-use agreement.

The current fiscal crisis that confronts the West Contra Costa Unified District serves as a call to establish, expand and sustain partnerships between West County cities and the school district. The fiscal crisis in our school district underscores the imperative to move away from the traditional paradigm of the isolation of public schools and municipal government.

Temecula officials say they are determined to press ahead with the construction of a gymnasium in Old Town despite rising cost estimates. The gym project recently received an endorsement from an ad-hoc committee even though its cost projections have sharply increased since it was initially proposed several years ago.

With one big “if,” San Leandro is pledging to pony up $2.2 million for a gym and other improvements at the ninth-grade-only campus under construction on East 14th Street. Under the proposed agreement, the city could schedule public recreation programs in the gym after 4 p.m. on weekdays, and exclusively on weekends and holidays.

The Campbell Union High School District has reached a joint use agreement with the city of Saratoga on use of the district’s playing fields at Prospect High School. The terms of the initial two-year agreement expire in December, prompting Saratoga city officials and the district to enter into negotiations early.

AMERICAN CANYON — As the community awaits the completion of its first high school, other much-needed projects are under way this summer at American Canyon public schools, district officials said Thursday. The additions include a new library at Donaldson Way Elementary School, parking and landscaping at Napa Junction Elementary School and an all-weather track at American Canyon Middle School. (Registration required for full article).

If all goes right, next school year’s incoming Rivera Middle School sixth-graders could be bouncing basketballs on the floor of a new gymnasium by eighth grade. At their meeting Tuesday night, Merced City School District board members approved a joint-use agreement with the city of Merced that would allow for a gym to be built on the Buena Vista Drive campus. (Registration required for full article.)

SAN DIEGO – Even as San Diego’s economic picture remains stubbornly dark, with the mayor cutting 22 library and 31 park workers in his new budget, there may be a bright spot. Residents will get four new parks in the next fiscal year. That’s on top of seven this year.

The City of Santa Ana in Orange County, Calif., had a problem: A congested urban environment, too few community recreation facilities, and too little open space. The Santa Ana Unified School District (USD) also had a problem. It had too many high school students, not enough high schools, and not enough land on which to construct a new school. (Registration required for full text.)