A San Diego community came together Saturday to celebrate the legacy of Neal Petties, a former San Diego State football standout and NFL player who later devoted much of his life to serving local youth. A new sign bearing Petties’ name was unveiled at Neal Petties-Mountain View Community Park, roughly three years after the San Diego City Council officially renamed the park in his honor. For Petties’ family, the sign represents more than recognition of his football career. It serves as a lasting reminder of the impact he had on generations of children and families in Southeast San Diego. “You know what? See that name right there, Neal Petties? That’s a big deal right there,” said Sherie Petties-Jackson, Petties’ daughter. Petties played football at San Diego State and later in the NFL before returning to the community, where he eventually became the park’s manager. His daughter said his work at the park was far more important to him — and to the people who knew him — than his accomplishments on the football field. “When I was younger and people said, ‘Oh, your dad played football,’ that was just nothing compared to what he did for the community,” Petties-Jackson said. She said her father created a free lunch program at the park and helped provide activities and experiences for children whose families might not have been able to afford them. He arranged trips to places such as Magic Mountain, bringing in buses so children could attend for as little as a dollar. He also brought bands, petting zoos and other activities to the park. “He’d bring bands, petting zoos, everything down here for them to get involved in to experience a little bit of culture where they otherwise would not have been exposed to,” Petties-Jackson said. The sign unveiling also became a family gathering, with relatives coming together to celebrate Petties’ life and the legacy he left behind. Lari Petties, Petties’ niece, remembers visiting him at the park as a child. She recalled watching children run around the park, asking for balls and calling out to Petties, while he remained calm amid the activity. “He was just such a calm man, but he was very strong,” she said. Petties said her uncle’s impact extended beyond the park, with people remembering how he helped them find jobs or stay out of trouble. “But at the end of the day, he was just my uncle,” she said. Saturday’s ceremony also included a city proclamation designating Sept. 19 as Neal Petties Day. The park itself has more than a century of history. The City of San Diego officially dedicated the property as a park in 1914. In recent years, the park has undergone improvements including new ball courts, artwork and other renovations. For Petties’ family, those improvements are part of a continuing legacy. “All this that they’re doing — improvements here — this is how the park was 20, 30 years ago and they’re bringing it back around and we’re going to start that legacy all over again,” Petties-Jackson said. She said her father’s example has also inspired her own commitment to giving back. She hopes to continue his work with young people and potentially establish a youth home in his honor. “He was just a gentle giant. A big man but with an even bigger heart,” Petties-Jackson said. For the family, the new sign ensures Petties’ name will remain connected to the place where he spent so much of his life helping others. “A legacy for my family,” Petties-Jackson said. “My dad is going to live on through this park — his name, his memory, all of his good deeds for the community.” This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less