The Sandpiper

FEBRUARY 2008 issue

Shores Campaign a Step Closer
February 2008 | Barbara Mandel Pache

The Campaign for Del Mar Shores made its fourth of five escrow payments on January 15, moving a step closer to purchasing the Del Mar Shores School property for the City of Del Mar, and preserving the last parcel for open space, recreational and educational purposes. The last hurdle requires all of our help and commitment.

This latest $1.45 million payment brings the total of funds raised and committed to $4.5 million of the total $8.5 million needed to purchase the property from the Del Mar School District. Escrow is expected to close on February 28, 2008. It also marks the kickoff of the general community fundraising campaign to garner the remaining $4 million, under the respected leadership of co-chairs Laura DeMarco, Joe Sullivan, and Winston School headmaster Mike Peterson.

The School District agreed to the sale with an aggressively short escrow period. The Campaign launched in late July with just eight months to raise the full purchase price. Early contributors providing lead gifts have included Louise Ukleja, the Holliday Family Foundation, the Big Blue Sky Foundation, Albert & Gaye Hugo-Martinez, Art Nicholas, Laura and Ralph DeMarco, Carl and Sharon Hilliard, Nate McCay, the Filanc family, Jim Watkins, Bob and Darcy Bingham, Paul and Sue Hannam, Paul Musco, and Mike Roston, to name a few.

Now it's time for everyone to get involved, contribute, talk about the Shores property with friends, increase the buzz, and make sure that we retain this precious jewel for community use. The alternative: if the community is unable to close escrow with the School District, the District will have the right to sell the property to private developers for another condo or commercial project. The Shores Property is the only open space on the south side of town, and with its pristine ocean view, softball, baseball and soccer fields, it is a gem too precious to lose.

The Winston School, a private not-for-profit school providing an excellent academic experience for children with learning differences, has called the Shores home for the past 19 years. Their board of directors and parents have committed to raising up to half of the funds needed, and have done an outstanding job to date. The lead $1 million gift from Louise Ukleja was a result of their efforts. The Winston School is planning to lease space for another 55 years, and will additionally raise funds needed to renovate the original buildings. Their fundraising efforts will be credited to their lease payments.

Who uses the Shores Property now? 1,200 Little League and club softball and baseball players. Our Sharks soccer teams. Area families taking their dogs for a romp. Families enjoying a picnic out on the grass on a lazy afternoon. Those of us driving down Camino del Mar anxious to take a last peak at the ocean before heading to work.

Who will use the Shores in the future? All of us, our children and our grandchildren. The opportunity to purchase this property is a once-in-a-lifetime offer. If we miss this chance, we won't have it again.

The community has come together numerous times in the past to preserve what makes Del Mar great. The Del Mar Library, Powerhouse Park and Community Center, and Seagrove Park are all enjoyed by community members today because we came together, contributed to the best of our abilities, and assured that Del Mar will remain the beautiful, scenic and recreational community that brought and kept us here. Let's do it again and preserve the Shores School Property for open space and recreational and educational purposes for perpetuity.

What do we have to lose if we as a community do not raise the remaining $4 million by the time escrow is set to close? The beauty and tranquility of this gem at 9th and Camino del Mar. A place for our children to learn and enjoy sports. An educational treasure. And what would we get? More congestion and traffic. Potentially structures that would shroud our ocean view. Private enjoyment, private profit. It's a choice we make by our actions.

You can make a contribution today on the website, www.delmarparks.com or www.thewinstonschool.com . Contributions of cash, or appreciated stock are appreciated. And if you can make a pledge for a later payment, that's appreciated too. For more information, call campaign co-chair Joe Sullivan at 354-4311 or Mike Peterson, Winston School Headmaster at 259-8155. The Winston School, a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit, is graciously serving as fiscal agent for the Campaign, and checks can be sent to: Campaign for Del Mar Shores, The Winston School, 215 9th St., Del Mar. The February 28 deadline is right around the corner, so please act today!