TO: Oceanside Citizens/Locals

 

RE: Junior Seau Beach Community Center, Pier Plaza, Bandshell & Amphitheatre

 

Oceanside city staff has started evaluating the Junior Seau Beach Community Center, Pier Plaza, Bandshell and Amphitheatre as part of the city’s beach improvement plans. They have hired a consultant, put together an “advisory group” (no known application process or qualifications), and held a first public meeting on August 3, 2021. At that meeting, the consultant indicated there would be three scenarios that would be presented to the city council on or about February 2022: do nothing; renovate the existing facilities; or replace them, including the uses. The next public meeting is on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, 6 PM at the Oceanside Public Library Community Rooms, 300 N. Coast Hwy. We urge all Oceanside citizens/locals to come out and speak using the following Petition’s speaking points.

 

We, the residents of Oceanside, urge the Oceanside City Council and city staff to do the following:

 

1. If financially viable, improve the existing public facilities.

 

2. Increase/expand public access to these beachfront facilities by adding back critical youth and teen programming, such as boys and girls basketball, volleyball, badminton, and other activities; allow back court access to Laurel Elementary, Mission Elementary, Jefferson Middle, and St. Mary’s schools; and create more programs for youth and families at low to no costs. Due to construction of the beach hotels and beachfront improvements, COVID restrictions against congregating indoors and staff keeping the doors closed, programs at the beach community center have been virtually eliminated for the last couple of years, giving a false impression that the facility is “under-utilized.” In fact, there is more demand for court space than existing facilities, with only two (2) public gym/in-door basketball courts in the entire city, at a population of 178,000 people.

 

3. Reclaim space in front of the community center from the vendors. This area is public parkland and should be used to expand recreation programming. It is not a private commercial area.

 

4. Make it easier for members of the public to schedule events and activities. For the last almost 20 years, it has become more and more difficult to get access to these venues.

 

5. Honor the Park Master Plan that calls for increasing indoor basketball/gyms. The master plan, completed only 2 years ago, calls for 3 more gyms, not less. Do not eliminate basketball and volleyball programs, that for many families provide positive social, educational and athletic opportunities, including potential college scholarships, that they cannot get anywhere else in the city (i.e., unless they are able to travel to Melba Bishop Park, which is already over-utilized).

 

6. Appoint the Parks & Recreation Commission to act as the advisory group. Staff’s “advisory group” does not reflect the diversity of Oceanside nor of the users of these facilities. They did not participate in the Parks Master Plan process, which was completed only 2 years ago, nor do all members sit on a city council commission, with appointments having been approved by the city council. Staff explained that these people would not be making any recommendations, so what is their purpose?

 

7. Provide maximum opportunities for public input. At the August 3rd meeting, 18 of 18 speakers – Oceanside residents - spoke in support of maintaining current uses of the facilities. Some of the comments were met with rolling eyes by an “advisory group” member, and the consultant’s behavior was also noted as negative and not willing to accept public comments. Please be respectful of public members speaking. Please reach out to all community groups that have traditionally used the facilities for their input.

 

8. Be transparent – build trust. Recently, it has appeared to us Oceanside residents/locals that the city is more interested in supporting tourism than providing recreational opportunities to its citizens. These venues are dedicated parkland – for use by the public, regardless of income. For many, using these facilities is the only opportunity they have for going to the beach, so continuing current and past activities (and new ones!) is the only beach access for many families, especially from low income and disadvantaged neighborhoods.

 

The blocks where the Junior Seau Beach Community Center, Pier Plaza, Bandshell, Amphitheatre and Betty’s Lot currently sit were acquired by the City of Oceanside through various documents, including restrictions for public park use, from 1904 to 1937.

 

In 1985, the city formally dedicated these blocks as public parkland, bringing them under the protection of a city ordinance that requires a vote of the people to change the designation from parkland to another use.

 

The first bandshell was built in 1919, with the latest construction in 1950; the amphitheater was built in 1937, as part of a federal Works Project Administration; and the community center was completed in 1955. In 1960, Oceanside High School began using the bandshell for graduation. In 2012, the bandshell, amphitheater and community center were re-named in honor of Oceanside native and star athlete Junior Seau, who gave back to the youth of Oceanside financially as well as in their hopes and dreams. The bandshell has been used to celebrate various cultural and civic events, including Samoan Cultural Celebration, Juneteenth, Cinco de Mayo, LGBTQ Pride by the Beach, Operation Appreciation, Easter Services, etc., as well as for concerts and dancing. Recently, the bandshell/amphitheater are being used once a week for youth skating, and almost daily for youth team building and athletics.

 

The Oceanside Park Master Plan (2019) calls for 4.71 indoor gyms in Oceanside, a current deficit of 2.71. This facility is vital to the youth and families of Oceanside. The current uses must be maintained, with additional youth programming.

 

We, citizens/locals of Oceanside respectfully urge city staff and the Oceanside City Council to improve the process for gathering public input, truly listen to the citizens/locals, especially those who use the facilities, and continue to maintain the Junior Seau Beach Community Center, Pier Plaza, Bandshell and Amphitheater as public parkland. We support improving these facilities to ensure public use into the future as far as possible, as well as expanding programming for youth and other activities at low to no cost.

We strongly support the Junior Seau Beach Community Center remain a gym/basketball court, with increased youth programming and access, including taking back the public space immediately in front of the community center which has been taken over by vendors.

 

Thank you!

 

Mary Seau