Dwight Murphy Field construction to start; parks director lists donors and summer events

Parks and Recreation Director Miss DeBach told commissioners May 28 that construction of the Dwight Murphy Field project is scheduled to begin the coming Monday with construction fencing going up around the park.

She said the larger Dwight Murphy project will include a new lit artificial-turf multi-sport field, an expanded adult fitness area, an all‑abilities playground named Gwendolyn’s playground, and other park improvements. Funding assembled for the project includes more than $6 million raised by the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation, roughly $19 million in city funds (as described by staff), $1.5 million in federal community-project funding secured by Congressman Salud Carbajal, and a $5 million pledge from donor Ty Warner. Staff said the Ty Warner pledge is to be deposited into a city-specified bank account within 20 days following final approval of the signed plan by the Architectural Board of Review (per the MOU language staff cited).

Director DeBach also noted that 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the city’s Arts & Crafts Show on Cabrillo Boulevard and that the Saturday–Sunday Mother's Day event earlier in May included a commemorative tote-bag giveaway. She announced the return of the Simona Nautica Summer Sports Festival in the waterfront area around July 4, and said event information and participation details are on the festival website.

Commissioners asked follow-up questions about the timing and payment terms for donor pledges and about vendor attendance at the Mother's Day event; staff said the MOU specifies the timing for the Ty Warner gift and that they would follow up on vendor sales/attendance numbers before the end of the meeting.