The Parks Master Plan that is part of the City’s Complete Communities program proposes to replace all community specific DIF and FBA fees with a Citywide DIF fee that could be spent anywhere in the City of San Diego. If approved, this means is that all the developer fees from 3Roots, Stone Creek and the last phase of Casa Mira View would go into a Citywide fund instead of being spent for parks and other projects in Mira Mesa. The fees from Casa Mira View and 3Roots are planned to be spent on the following projects:

1. Completion of the last phase of Mira Mesa Community Park including a pool and skate park
2. Construction of a recreation center on the new park in the 3Roots project (the park is partially paid for by a credit on FBA fees)
3. Completion of the missing link in Carroll Canyon Road that will connect 3Roots to I-805
4. Development of Canyon Hills Resource Park

All of these projects are at risk, and if the Parks Master Plan is approved there is no guarantee when or if these projects will ever be built. Although the Parks Master Plan is specifically about parks, it is unclear what would happen to road projects that are also paid for by the FBA.

The Parks Master Plan has an admirable goal of trying to make parks more equitable across the City, but it appears that they are trying to do this by taking money away from communities that have development in progress, rather than trying to find new sources of funds for older park-deficient communities.

Another problem with the Parks Master Plan is that it eliminates the population-based park acreage standard of 2.8 acres per thousand residents and replaces it with a complicated point system that gives more weight to park features and less, in fact very little, to acreage. The effect of this will be to reduce park acreage throughout San Diego and instead add more features to existing parks. When we did the 1992 update to the Mira Mesa Community Plan, the fact that the City had to meet this requirement was enormously important. Because of that, we added the following parks to the Community Plan: Breen Park, Camino Ruiz Park, the expansion of Mira Mesa Community Park, Westview Park, Lopez Ridge Park and Parkdale Park (to be replaced by 3Roots park). Without the acreage standard, it is very likely that the City would have just added features to the older existing parks, rather than adding the new parks.

For more information on the Parks Master Plan, see https://www.sandiego.gov/complete-communities/parks-master-plan

Limited Reopening of Neighborhood Parks for Individual Use in Accordance with COVID-19 Public Health Rules

Sunday, June 14, 2020 Update: Community and neighborhood parks, as well as certain trails in Open Space parks, are OPEN for passive purposes only (walking, jogging, or hiking) or for members of the same household to congregate in small groups. Community, neighborhood and open space parking lots are fully open to their original capacity throughout the city. Community and neighborhood park public basketball and tennis courts are now open. Players must practice social distancing or be members of the same household.

A full list of all parks now open can be found here.

Monday, April 20, 2020 – NEWS RELEASE

San Diego – Following comments he made last week regarding a phased reopening of some City parks in a way that continues to protect public health amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer today announced a limited reopening of neighborhood parks for passive uses by individuals.

Activities such as walking, jogging and bicycling will be allowed. No active sports, organized activities or groups will be authorized. Physical distancing rules must be followed and face coverings are strongly recommended in accordance with County of San Diego directives. Parking lots will remain closed, and San Diegans are encouraged to visit the parks closest to them.

The Mayor said future decisions, including whether these limited park reopenings remain in effect or whether additional recreational facilities will be opened in a phased approach will be dependent upon how closely physical distancing rules are followed and the ongoing monitoring of COVID-19 cases. The County of San Diego has baseline conditions for parks and beaches to remain open, with cities able to apply specific measures to local jurisdictions as long as they meet the requirements of public health orders.

“We closed all parks and beaches last month because too many San Diegans were gathering and potentially spreading COVID-19, overwhelming the ability of officers to enforce public safety rules. Since late March San Diegans have been following the rules and our hospitals have been able to meet patient demand,” Mayor Faulconer said. “We want to provide an outlet for people to remain physically and mentally active as we enter the fourth week of San Diegans staying in their homes. I thank San Diegans for their diligence so far, and based on how the public responds to this change we will determine what the next steps could be in coordination with our public health officials.”

Parks seeing reopenings for limited use include community, neighborhood, mini and pocket parks. Beaches, shoreline parks, regional parks, boardwalks, major trails, golf courses, and Balboa Park’s Central Mesa and museums remain closed.

Here is what residents should know:

PUBLIC HEALTH RULES:

• Physical distancing must be followed in accordance with state, regional and local orders to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
• Face coverings are strongly encouraged while visiting park facilities.

WHAT IS ALLOWED STARTING TUESDAY:

• All neighborhood, community, mini and pocket parks will open Tuesday.
• Only passive activities like walking and jogging are authorized in these parks.
• Visit parks in your neighborhood and within walking distance to eliminate the need for driving as parking lots will remain closed.
• Restrooms are open for public use at these parks.
• Trails will be open within open space parks for public use except for Cowles Mountain and Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve Trail, both of which will remain closed.

WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED:

• No active sports, organized activities or groups will be allowed and playgrounds, basketball courts, baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, etc. will remain closed.
• Parking lots will remain closed at all parks and beaches.
• Most amenities at these parks will remain closed including recreation centers, swimming pools, school district joint-use areas, bicycle pump tracks, skate parks, visitor centers, nature centers and campgrounds.

The following City-operated facilities remain closed until further notice:

• Beaches
• Shoreline parks
• Regional parks (such as Mission Bay Park)
• Boardwalks
• Balboa Park Central Mesa and all museums (except portions of Morley Field and passive sections of the East and West Mesa)
• Golf courses (Balboa Park, Mission Bay and Torrey Pines)
• Cowles Mountain and Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve Trail

A full list of parks opening tomorrow for limited use can be found  here.