Why this matters
Officials say locals have been asking for a neighborhood park for more than 30 years.
After decades of waiting, a community in south San Diego will finally see progress on a promised neighborhood park in the Otay Mesa-Nestor community.
Assemblymember David Alvarez, D-San Diego, held an event on Friday to celebrate securing $4.3 million in state funding for the first of two phases of construction of the 11.5-acre Grove Neighborhood Park. The site, formerly referred to as Southwest Neighborhood Park, is at Grove Avenue between Interstate 5 and 27th Street.
Community members have advocated for the park for a long time.
“The Otay Mesa-Nestor community has been waiting for this park for over 30 years,” Alvarez said in a statement. “That is simply far too long.”
The funding will pay for children’s play areas, picnic facilities, public art, security lighting, walkways, new water, sewer and electric services, landscaping, irrigation, stormwater and drainage infrastructure, fencing and removal of an existing pool and septic tank, H. Christoffer Jonsmyr, spokesperson for Alvarez, told inewsource. A comfort station and on-site parking lot may also be included if the budget allows.
Jonsmyr said officials expect to advertise the construction contract for the project in October.
The city expects construction of the first phase will take about 15-18 months.
Details on the second phase will be posted “at a later date,” according to the Parks and Recreation Department’s latest adopted budget. City of San Diego spokesperson Tyler Becker said officials split capital projects into multiple phases of construction so they can get started on work before securing full funding.
Staff has previously discussed the project during community workshops, recommending amenities such as sports fields, multipurpose courts, a dog park, a parking lot and more.
The new state funding comes from Proposition 4, which authorized in 2024 a $10 billion bond measure to fund state and local parks, environmental protection projects, water infrastructure projects, energy projects and flood protection projects.
Type of Content
News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
