The momentum for designating a regional park in the Chollas Creek Watershed is building quickly. Supporters of the proposed plan believe that it would give the Chollas Creek area a long-overdue and well-deserved regional identity, while bringing diverse neighborhoods together through a watershed-wide system of trails and parks and visitor destinations. “This watershed is an important regional asset, characterized by a rich history and unparalleled historic, biological, and cultural resources,” says Vicki Estrada, President of Estrada Land Planning and member of the Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek Board of Directors. Groundwork is the manager of the Chollas Creek Watershed and is leading the Regional Park effort.
In order to create the masterplan for creating and connecting trails and parks; restoring habitats; and interpreting the area’s vast resources, an estimated $700,000 in city funding will be needed. Groundwork has just completed a Feasibility Study draft to be reviewed by City Planning Department staff and presented to the City of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation Board in November to obtain support for the masterplan.
Supporters believe that the Chollas Creek Watershed, like the San Diego and San Dieguito River Parks, has significant recreational amenities will that will be of interest to visitors throughout San Diego and beyond. Chollas Creek runs north and south of SR 94 from Lemon Grove and La Mesa to San Diego Bay.
Our regional park effort has generated unparalleled support from elected officials, community planning groups, residents, and others,” says Leslie Reynolds, executive director of Groundwork. “It is an amazing idea whose time has come.”
Groundwork San Diego successfully generated $1.5 million, in partnership with the City and the County, for trail connection between Southcrest and the Bayshore Bikeway. Reynolds believes that the regional park master plan aligns perfectly with Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s focus on bolstering San Diego neighborhoods and on his Climate Actiion Plan for San Diego.
However, the community awareness of the creek is relatively low, said that he didn’t even know about the creek until he became a community leader. One of the major reasons is the poverty within the community made the creek a popular dumping ground and camping field for the homeless.
In a recent Union Tribune article, Ken Marlborough, chairman of the Encanto Community Planning Group had this to say: “I think it would make a big difference in community pride. It could help us turn the creek back to what it originally was. It’s the right thing to do.”
Read the plan here: Chollas Creek Regional Park PP
Link to the original article: Supporters Build Up Regional Park Plan
