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DATE: |
October 22, 2025 |
07 |
SUBJECT
Title
APPROVAL OF THE NAMING RIGHTS CONTRIBUTION AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION NAMING THE SAN DIEGUITO PARK MIRACLE FIELD “PADRES PARK,” RATIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS FOR THE SAN DIEGUITO PARK MIRACLE FIELD, AND RELATED CEQA EXEMPTION (DISTRICT: 3)
Body
OVERVIEW
The County of San Diego (County) San Dieguito Park, located in the unincorporated community of Rancho Santa Fe, offers a variety of recreational activities and areas for community members to enjoy, including a baseball field, playgrounds, exercise stations, a basketball court, pavilions, a wedding gazebo, large open lawn areas, and picnic areas.
In 2007, the baseball field was reconstructed in the upper area of San Dieguito Park and renamed “Miracle Field,” specifically for individuals with disabilities. This field provides an inclusive, fully accessible venue where participants can enjoy the game of baseball in a safe, barrier-free environment. The field is regularly used by local and regional groups, including the Miracle League of San Diego (Miracle League), for baseball. The rubber surfacing of the field has reached the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced with a similar material that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to maintain the field’s high standards for accessibility and safety.
The County’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has worked closely with the Miracle League to secure the funding needed to replace the existing surfacing. The Miracle League has raised a total of $600,000: $250,000 through a sponsorship with the San Diego Padres Foundation; $310,000 from contributions to the Miracle League from individuals and foundations; and an additional $40,000 from County Board of Supervisors (Board) Chair Terra Lawson-Remer through the Neighborhood Reinvestment Program (NRP). These funds supplement the existing $250,000 designated for the project in the DPR budget, bringing the total project funding to the $850,000 needed to complete the resurfacing of the baseball field. The NRP grant program supports one-time community, social, environmental, educational, cultural, or recreational needs and is available to organizations in each County Supervisor’s respective district.
Today’s proposed actions are to approve the naming rights resolution of the field for the San Diego Padres in accordance with Board Policy F-46, Authority to Name County Buildings and Facilities, authorize the Director of DPR to enter into a standard naming rights agreement to rename the “Miracle Field” to “Padres Park” for a period of 15 years pursuant to the resolution, and ratify the acceptance of the Miracle League’s donation of $600,000 in accordance with County Administrative Code Section 66, Acceptance of Gifts, and Board Policy A-112, Acceptance and Use of Gifts and Donations. Today’s proposed actions also include a request to establish appropriations of the donations received in DPR for the field resurfacing of the San Dieguito Park Miracle Field, and authorization for the Chair of the Board to sign letters of appreciation to the Miracle League of San Diego and the Padres Foundation on behalf of the County.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find that today’s action for the San Dieguito Park Miracle Field is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15301 and 15302 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
2. Adopt a resolution entitled, A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO RENAMING THE SAN DIEGUITO PARK MIRACLE FIELD TO “PADRES PARK”.
3. Authorize the Director of Parks and Recreation to enter into a standard naming rights agreement for a period of 15 years pursuant to the Resolution.
4. In accordance with County of San Diego Administrative Code Section 66, Acceptance of Gifts, and Board of Supervisors Policy A-112, Acceptance and Use of Gifts and Donations, ratify acceptance of the donation of $600,000 from the Miracle League of San Diego to supplement the cost to replace the rubber surface of the San Dieguito Park Miracle Field.
5. Establish appropriations of $600,000 in the Department of Parks and Recreation, Services & Supplies, for the resurfacing of the San Dieguito Park Miracle Field, based on a $250,000 private donation from the Padres Foundation via the Miracle League of San Diego, a $310,000 private donation from the Miracle League of San Diego, and $40,000 from the District 3 Neighborhood Reinvestment Program. (4 VOTES)
6. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign a letter of appreciation on behalf of the County of San Diego to the Miracle League of San Diego and the Padres Foundation.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Participation in sports offers numerous benefits, including improved physical health, cognitive function, mental wellness, and social-emotional development. The San Dieguito Park Miracle Field provides inclusive access for individuals with disabilities to experience these benefits through active participation in team play. In alignment with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this facility ensures equitable opportunities by creating an accessible environment where all individuals, regardless of ability, can engage in sports, build life skills, and foster a sense of community.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Today’s actions support many of the County of San Diego’s (County) Sustainability Goals, including Sustainability Goal No. 1 by engaging with the community and diverse stakeholders to partner and participate in decisions that impact their communities. Today’s actions also support Sustainability Goal No. 2 by providing just and equitable access to County facilities, and Sustainability Goal No. 4 by expanding opportunities for access to outdoor recreation for individuals of all abilities.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are partially included in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operational Plan in the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). If approved, this request will result in additional costs and revenue of $600,000 for the resurfacing of the San Dieguito Park Miracle Field. The funding source is a $560,000 private donation from the Miracle League of San Diego (Miracle League), which includes a $250,000 private donation from the Padres Foundation, and $40,000 from the District 3 Neighborhood Reinvestment Program. The total project cost is estimated to be $850,000, which includes $250,000 of existing General Purpose Revenue in DPR.
Upon completion of the project, the estimated ongoing costs of program operation and field maintenance are $10,000 annually. Ongoing support will be provided by the Miracle League from revenue generated through league user fees and concessions, as well as Miracle League volunteers, at a value that will exceed the $10,000 annual cost. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
On December 13, 2006 (10), the County of San Diego (County) Board of Supervisors (Board) established appropriations of $1.2 million, in the Capital Outlay Fund, which included a $300,000 donation from the Miracle League, for the construction of the San Dieguito Park Accessible Ballfield project at San Dieguito Park, and in 2007, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant and fully accessible baseball field known as the Miracle Field was constructed for individuals with disabilities in the upper area of San Dieguito Park. Additional improvements to the restroom, shade structure for the bleachers, and paving for the picnic area were funded by a $200,000 donation from the Miracle League in 2008.
The Miracle Field at San Dieguito Park was originally designed with some design assistance from the Miracle League, a nationally-based organization dedicated to providing children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to play baseball. Founded in 2000, the Miracle League has grown to serve over 450,000 children and adults across the country and internationally. The organization operates a “buddy” system, pairing each player with an able-bodied peer to assist them on the field. This system not only provides support but also fosters friendships and camaraderie among players of all abilities. The Miracle League’s mission is to remove barriers to participation in baseball and to promote inclusivity and acceptance within the community.
The Miracle League of San Diego, a local chapter of the Miracle League, currently provides children and adults with special needs the opportunity to play baseball at San Dieguito Park in an organized league on the Miracle Field throughout the year. The rubber surfacing on the field has reached the end of its useful life, and it needs to be replaced with a similar ADA-compliant material that will also contain the San Diego Padres logo if today’s actions are approved.
Replacement of the existing surfacing at the Miracle Field in San Dieguito Park will maintain the field’s inclusive use and safety. The updated surface is designed to support individuals with disabilities by providing a smooth, seamless, and non-slip surface that accommodates wheelchairs and mobility aids. It reduces the risk of falls, withstands heavy use, and remains cool underfoot.
The County’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has worked closely with the Miracle League of San Diego (Miracle League) to secure the funding needed to replace the existing surfacing. The Miracle League has raised $600,000, with $250,000 coming through a sponsorship with the Padres Foundation, $310,000 from Miracle League contributions from individuals and foundations, and an additional $40,000 from Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer through District 3’s Neighborhood Reinvestment Program (NRP). These funds supplement the $250,000 already designated for the project in the DPR budget, bringing the total project budget to $850,000. The NRP grant program supports one-time community, social, environmental, educational, cultural, or recreational needs and is available to organizations in each County Supervisor’s respective district.
Today’s proposed actions are to ratify the acceptance of the Miracle League’s donation of $600,000 in accordance with County Administrative Code Section 66, Acceptance of Gifts, and Board Policy A-112, Acceptance and Use of Gifts and Donations, and approve the naming rights resolution of the field for the San Diego Padres in accordance with Board Policy F-46, Authority to Name County Buildings and Facilities. If approved, the replacement of the rubber surface of the field is expected to begin in December 2025 and be completed by the end of January 2026.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
The proposed project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction) of the State CEQA Guidelines. Section 15301 is applicable because the project consists of improvements to the existing Miracle Field with no or negligible expansion of use. Section 15302 is applicable because the project consists of replacing the existing worn ADA-accessible surface of the field. The project is not subject to any of the exceptions to the Categorical Exemptions listed in Section 15300.2 of the CEQA Guidelines.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions to replace the existing surfacing at the San Dieguito Park Miracle Field are in alignment with the Community and Equity Strategic Initiatives in the County of San Diego’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan by providing programs and services that enhance the community through increasing the well-being of our residents and our environments, by reducing disparities and disproportionality through ensuring access for all, and facilitating partnerships to benefit the region.
Respectfully submitted,
DAHVIA LYNCH
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - Project Vicinity Map
Attachment B - A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO RENAMING THE SAN DIEGUITO PARK MIRACLE FIELD TO “PADRES PARK”
Attachment C - Letter of Appreciation