Residents in 1945 pushed back against William Payne’s hiring at Pacific Beach Junior High because they argued there were few Black students at the school.
Pacific Beach resident Paige Hernandez said the park’s name change reaffirms the historical presence of Black community members in Pacific Beach, and it sends a message that racism will not be tolerated, she said.
“It is a way for community members who might be Black and Brown, who live here, to heal and to see that community members do care about their existence here,” Hernandez said.
The 82,000-square foot park is located on Diamond Street. It is used by students at Pacific Beach Middle and by residents when school is not in session.
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The 67th Annual Greater San Diego Science And Engineering Fair took place virtually last month. Here is a look back at the first fair in 1955.
From The San Diego Union, Saturday, April 16, 1955:
PRIZES AWARDED AT SCIENCE FAIR
Girl, Boy Will Get Trip to Cleveland
An Escondido boy who built a machine to take the salt out of ocean water and a San Diego girl who made a series of models of microscopic animals won grand prizes last night in the opening of the Greater San Diego Science Fair in the Institute of Aeronautical Science building.
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The boy is David Smith of Escondido Union High School. The girl is Evelyn La Heist of Kearny High School. By winning first places in the senior division of the fair they become eligible for an all-expense trip to the National Science Fair in Cleveland May 12, 13, and 14.