Newport Elementary School Opens New Playfield

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Under a bright blue fall sky, with the ocean as backdrop for the emerald field, Newport Elementary School students were once again able to enjoy running and playing on this stellar field on Tuesday, Oct. 23.

The previous park was described as a "sand-choked," and desperately in need of renovation, according to the Los Angeles Times Daily Pilot.

Newport Elementary School and the Newport Mesa Unified School District Board of Supervisors celebrated the grand re-opening of the school's playfield this week. City Council Members were also on hand to celebrate the accomplishment of the field's opening.

A field of broad green "sand tolerant" grass was opened to all after the ceremonial ribbon cutting, while parents and families watched from the new "seat wall."

"It was a free-for-all with kids and some parents running around and playing on the field," a spokesperson from the City of Newport Beach told us.

This project was made possible through the encouragement of parents and shared funding between the NMUSD and the City, they said. Improvements toward the field involved replanting field with sod, construction of new wall around field and flat-work to improve the boardwalk alongside the field. Work was completed by GMC Engineering of Tustin, and was expected to cost approximately $613,000, according to the Times.

The wall will serve to block out windblown sand which has caused problems in the past with this fully exposed field.

The school district governing board approved Newport-Mesa's $250,000 share at its Feb. 13, 2018 meeting. The agenda for that meeting said that the city would contribute at least $250,000, with the understanding that the district will provide a one-time matching contribution in the amount of $250,000.

"From the looks of things, it was money well spent," the city of Newport Beach said over social media.

Photos, courtesy City of Newport Beach