This summer, the St. Johns County School District is working to get community members outside by opening up additional sports facilities to the public.
For the first time, all six public high schools in the area will open their outdoor courts and fields to the public from 9 a.m .until noon on five Saturdays throughout June and July.
“We’re opening our six high schools’ ... tracks, our tennis courts, and our basketball courts will be available for community health and wellness,” said Paul Abbatinozzi, director of School Services.
While the facilities will not be available for organized practices or formal pre-season training, they will be open to all St. Johns’ County residents, not just families with high schoolers or students of the schools.
Abbatinozzi hopes that the extra outdoor space will help to fill a need in the community.
“We hope that it’s a support of community health and wellness, and an opportunity for some additional recreational opportunities in areas where people may not be able to access parks and recreation facilities,” he said.
The district will collect data during the program’s first summer to learn more about how the fields and courts are used, and to improve upon the program in the future. Abbatinozzi added that they hope to see it continue and grow.
“I think we’re just excited to open up the facilities for the community and we look forward to great turnouts every Saturday,” Abbatinozzi said.
Additional details are available on the district’s website. Bartram Trail, Creekside, Allen D. Nease, Pedro Menendez, Ponte Vedra, and St. Augustine high schools will be open on each of the following Saturdays: June 11, June 18, June 25, July 9, and July 23.