Your Donation Benefits Children and
Builds Community:

• Ensured the Shores property is preserved and not lost to residential and commercial development
• Protects the only available recreational open space in our densely populated coastal community
• Relieves the increasing shortage of playing fields for youth and adult sports teams and preserve the founding field of Del Mar Little League
• Enabled the Winston School to continue serving bright children with learning differences in grades 4 through 12
• Benefited the children, families and schools of the Del Mar Union School District with the $8.5 million proceeds from the sale for new schools and capital projects
• Creates a generous legacy for our children, grandchildren and future generations
• Memorialize you, your loved ones or organization through naming opportunities
• Can be matched by challenge grants from foundations and other organizations.

Historical  Information

Late 1800s - Shores Property along Stratford Court (formerly Railroad Avenue) Street was the site of the original Del Mar train station.  The property was acquired in 1906 by the South Coast Land Company.  It was later acquired by William G. Kerckhoffs company.

1946 - property conveyed to the struggling Del Mar Union School District (DMUSD) by Kerckoff family with the deed restriction that the property be used for "school purposes only" and explicitly prohibits residential and commercial development  

1947 -  Del Mar Shores School opened to serve children in Del Mar area.

Early 1970s - the student population had outgrown the Shores facility.  Two new schools were built in the Del Mar Heights neighborhood, and the Shores School was closed. 

1988 - The Shores became the home of The Winston School, and since then they have leased and maintained the property.

2005 - The DMUSD declared the Shores property surplus and available for sale.  A group of concerned community leaders formed The Friends of Del Mar Parks and joined together with Winston families to help raise funds for the purchase. 

July 31, 2007 - DMUSD agrees to sell property to the City of Del Mar for $8.5 million. 

News Update

November 8, 2010 - The Del Mar City Council voted to pay off the existing $3,451,398 loan balance with Union Bank.  The property will remain in the public trust owned by the City of Del Mar, and The Winston School will have a 55-year lease to continue its outstanding educational programs.    See news stories.

Ownership and use following purchase:  The City of Del Mar is the legal owner of the property and The Winston School has a long-term lease in exchange for the funds donated by and on behalf of The Winston School. This will allow The Winston School to continue their vital mission educating children with learning differences.  The open space and ball fields will continue to be made available for community use after school hours and on weekends.  Currently, Del Mar Little League and area recreational teams use the baseball field extensively throughout the week and weekend.  The Winston School and the City are pledged to maintain open space and recreational uses as they are currently, and future improvements will be planned via a joint planning process with the community.   

Your contribution assures our children will have use of the only sports field in Del Mar.
This open and recreational space will be enjoyed for generations to come.
Won't you support the Friends of Del Mar Parks today?