Editorial: Open up Fresno Unified schools for community use

The demand for more parks has become one of the bigger issues in budget negotiations at Fresno City Hall. Residents, particularly in south Fresno, want more green space.

Our thought is that some people are overlooking a cost-effective option. We remember when Fresno’s Parks and Recreation Department was recognized as one of the best in the nation.

These accolades were not based on the statistical yardsticks that are in vogue today and are the basis of an annual ranking by the Trust for Public Land.

Back in the day, Fresnans — especially children and teens — benefited from a partnership involving City Hall, Fresno Unified School District and local colleges.

When the last bell rang, the schools became recreation hubs staffed by part-time workers, many of whom were college students.

Kids could play checkers and card games. Or expend energy on swings, slides and monkey bars. Carrom, a table game that is similar to pool, was very popular.

You could check out a basketball or football. There were softball leagues in the spring.

In the fall, parks and rec and the school district partnered on a Saturday basketball league for middle-schoolers.

But, as Fresno grew, so did the bureaucracies. Solutions these days are not easily authored. Too often, our leaders are more interested in protecting turf and building empires than in solving challenges.

Fresno only need look to Clovis to see how it is done. That community has grown dramatically in size and popularity because it has made schools and recreation top priorities. Clovis Unified doesn’t chain the gates to its schools when the teachers leave for the day.

Fresno Unified does, and it’s a crying shame. Want to throw a little batting practice to your son or daughter? Both of you better be prepared to climb over a chain-link fence.

Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin and Fresno Unified Superintendent Michael Hanson are close political allies.

Yet they’ve never been able to team up and keep schools open so that children and adults can take advantage of the green space.

Instead, City Hall will spend tens of millions acquiring land, hiring consultants and planning future parks.

And yes, Fresno needs more parks. It also needs to capitalize on what Fresno Unified taxpayers have already built.

Take off those locks and hire college students to supervise the sites. It’s really that easy.

This story was originally published June 13, 2015 at 9:22 AM with the headline "Editorial: Open up Fresno Unified schools for community use."