As residents of tight-knit San Leandro communities, our lives revolve around the communal spaces that we share. For many of us, the decision to move into the neighborhoods was driven by the presence of Roosevelt Elementary School and its vibrant, lively playgrounds which used to be open to the public after school hours and on weekends. And it was more than just a playground for kids; it was a meaningful hub that allowed parents and our children to connect with other families and share the experience of being outside.

However, our cherished playground was closed to the public due to a terrible incident where a child was bitten by an unleashed dog during an early evening after school program. Dogs are not permitted off leash, with very clear signage, however a very small group of irresponsible dog owners created this safety concern and impacted hundreds of families with this closure.  The safety of children is absolutely paramount, however a complete shutdown of public access on weeknights and weekends, though effective in punishing the small group of dog owners and mitigating risks, seems excessively punitive to hundreds of family members and children. The irresponsible actions of one person should not punish the masses.  Rather than an absolute closure, potential risks posed by pets could be managed more effectively through possible solutions such as implementing and enforcing stricter dog-control rules, closing public access during after school events, or working towards creating dog parks in unused or under-used lot spaces of our neighborhood and city.

In a time where connection and being outside are more important than ever, we would like to appeal to the school, the school district, and school board to reconsider this decision and reinstate public access to Roosevelt Elementary School playground. Please, allow us the opportunity to remain safe and engaged in our community and continue fostering the much-needed sense of belonging for our children and our parents.

If you would like Roosevelt Elementary School playground to reopen after hours, please sign this petition!  The school board needs to know there are citizens that are passionate about this and that we want solutions and a transparent process to make it happen.  Thank you for your support!  Please spread the word!  

We will be going to the Board Meeting on Feb 11 with this petition, so if you could help us get as many signatures as possible, that’d be much appreciated! We will update you on any progress that is made!