Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
For The Alpine Sun
Students couldn’t wait to take their first victory lap Sept. 25 on the new green artificial turf athletic field at Alpine Elementary School in Alpine!
The ribbon-cutting for the Gage Paul Dyke Memorial Field was a celebration of everything it took to make the “field of dreams” come true at the school at 1850 Alpine Blvd. The multi-use field is surrounded by a running track.
Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
For The Alpine Sun
Students couldn’t wait to take their first victory lap Sept. 25 on the new green artificial turf athletic field at Alpine Elementary School in Alpine!
The ribbon-cutting for the Gage Paul Dyke Memorial Field was a celebration of everything it took to make the “field of dreams” come true at the school at 1850 Alpine Blvd. The multi-use field is surrounded by a running track.
PTA President Jessica Manning, who led the effort, acknowledged during the ribbon-cutting ceremony the many people “who worked on this field together,” sometimes until 3 a.m.
“I just want to thank so many people for making this happen,” Manning told the crowd.
She gave East San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob an award for helping the school and the community with the major accomplishment.
The county’s Neighborhood Reinvestment Program provided $120,000 for the project. The PTA and community organizations donated cash, time, labor and materials.
“This is an unprecedented project that Jessica and the PTA put together,” Jacob said in an interview. “I have never seen anything like this.”
Manning, who earned an Alpine Leadership & Public Service Award for the project, admitted that she didn’t know at first about all the hurdles required.
AES students, teachers and staff as well as Alpine Union School District Superintendent Bruce Cochrane participated in the grand opening. With student Meghan Rea as event emcee, the students sang and enacted a skit about seven key leadership habits.
“I’m so happy the turf is here,” fifth-grader Nolan Dabbs said enthusiastically as he thanked everyone. “First it was a small idea. Then it became a reality. Finally we can play in shorts without getting hurt!”
The field is named for the late son of Paul Dyke, owner of the Outback Turf Company and an AES alumnus. Manning gave Dyke and his family an award for their significant help in creating the field. Dyke’s daughter, Mykenna Dyke, is an AES fifth-grader.
“He’s not only my dad, but my hero,” Mykenna said as she publicly thanked her father. “I know he made this happen because he loves me.”
Outback Turf is a member of the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber Vice Chairman Bob Ring of Barons Market, another former AES student, provided a Chamber Certificate of Recognition for the project. Ring praised the field as “an incredible gift from the Dyke family and the community.”
“This would be a good program to replicate on all our campuses,” said George Barnett of the Back Country Land Trust, a Chamber member.
Chamber Director/Ambassador Darryl Bush and Director Joseph Perricone of The Canvas Makers and his wife, Leslie, attended. Perricone is also an Alpine Union School District trustee.
So did Chamber Ambassadors Abigail Allen of the Alpine Woman’s Club; Roger Garay, On Line Bookkeeping & Tax Service; Rose Signore, Postal Annex of Alpine; Doug Williams, Edward Jones Investments, and Rowena Murray of the Alpine Wells Fargo Bank and its new manager, Rosa Cruz.
“I cried a little when they dedicated the field today,” Allen said.
Colin Campbell of the Alpine Education Foundation and Greg Fox of the Kiwanis Club of Alpine were there. Both organizations are Chamber members.
A Certificate of Recognition for “presenting unique opportunities in the community” was presented by a representative of State Senator Joel Anderson.
Parent Missy Vaughn of Alpine said her second-grade son was really excited about the field.
“He’ll get to play on it,” said the smiling mom.
