Help craft a vision for your parks and recreation system!

The City of San Diego has begun the third of its four-step process to update the Parks Master Plan (PMP)

 

PARKS MASTER PLAN APPROACH: STEP BY STEP

1. Learning: Existing Conditions

  • Data Review
  • Demographics Analysis
  • Climate Action Plan Analysis
  • Recreation Programs and Services Assessment

2. Exploring: Needs and Priorities

  • Regional Workshops
  • Stakeholder Interviews
  • Online Activity
  • Statistical Survey
  • Benchmark Comparison
  • Service Standards Analysis
  • Recreation Program Evaluation
  • Trends Analysis

3. Envisioning: Long-Range Park Planning

  • Visioning Workshops
  • Vision Statement
  • Guiding Principles
  • Goals and Policies
  • Conceptual Parks System Vision Map

4. Implementing: Parks Master Plan

  • Implementation Workshop
  • Short-term, mid-term and long-term actions
  • Funding Strategies
  • Partnership Opportunities
  • Community Open Houses

Public Involvement So Far:

The Parks Master Plan has gathered input on the needs and priorities of residents in multiple ways:

  • Statistically valid survey
  • Online activity
  • Regional Workshops
  • Stakeholder interviews

WHAT WE HEARD

Input shows common priorities for residents in the City of San Diego:

  • Neighborhood parks
  • Open space and trails
  • Off-leash dog parks
  • Fitness and wellness programs
  • Senior programs
  • Nature/outdoor programs
  • Maintenance of existing parks and facilities
  • Efforts to make parks more active and safer

What is Visioning?

Visioning helps us to think about what great parks and recreation programming might look like in 20 years. The input that you share with us will inform PMP recommendations and help guide the City’s park investments and program priorities in the years ahead. 
 
Let’s get started. Please share your thoughts on the following important topics that help make a great parks system.    

Access/Connectivity

Access in the context of parks means that every resident regardless of age, ability, or place of residence should be able to get to a park space or recreation opportunity safely and conveniently. Access includes walking, using assistive devices, biking, taking transit, or driving.

A 10-minute walk, or one-half mile, is a goal for many urban park systems

A complete network offers safe, convenient, comfortable access to parks for all residents. Many types of links both within and between parks and open spaces can expand access to recreational opportunities.
 

Question title

Access improvements could include sidewalks, trails, bike lanes, or transit. What ideas do you have for improving access to parks and recreation in your community and in the City overall?


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Should have better public transit (gondola?) from downtown and to North/South park.

Need protected bike lanes/trails from east side of park to museums
Reply4 Agree6 years ago
We need to connect the City's plan for restored wetlands at the mouth of Rose Creek with Marian Bear Natural Park and Rose Canyon Open Space Park to become a clean, healthy, aesthetically pleasing environment for residents, visitors, businesses, and native plants and animals, wh...See More
Reply2 Agree6 years ago
Sidewalks and More Shady Trees!!
Reply2 Agree6 years ago
Some paths/trails should be for people on foot only and there needs to be enforcement of no bikes/horses. This is a safety issue on narrow trails and for older adults who may not hear the bike/horse approaching from behind.
Reply2 Agree6 years ago

Question title

What other improvements, programs, or partnerships are needed to make it easier for people to access parks and recreation?

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Karin ZirkSidewalks with a landscaped parkway between the pedesterians and the cars to encourage walking to parks. Buffered bike lands for motorized mobility devices and bikes. We need more park and rec staff to create more programs to meet the needs of different user groups.
Reply3 Agree6 years ago
Bruce DammannAll new structures, renovation of existing structures and other visual elements that are to be built in parks should go through preliminary design review so that park organizations and the public can participate and comment early in the development process. The Park and Recreati...See More
Reply3 Agree6 years ago
-LuisCan the city please provide pull-up bars and dip bars at cowles mountain. Or every park in that case. Every park should have pull up bars and dip bars. thank you.
Reply1 Agree5 years ago
accessible and clean restrooms
Reply1 Agree5 years ago
Protected bike paths within the parks that create a loop! For example Lake Miramar.
Reply1 Agree5 years ago

Arts and Culture

Arts and culture are important elements of a park system that inspires and engages its residents and expresses the unique identity of a city and its neighborhoods.

Parks and recreational facilities offer programming for performing and visual arts, create spaces for artists, host cultural events, and serve as sites for public art installations.

300

Arts Classes and Workshops Offered in 2018

167

Dance Classes Offered in 2018

 

Question title

Arts and culture improvements could include public art, educational/interpretive displays, dance or performing arts. What ideas do you have for bringing more arts and culture into your community and in the City overall?


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Karin ZirkHave an arts/culture gallery at all our rec centers featuring arts and culture organizations from the neighborhood.
Reply2 Agree6 years ago
Spencer HutchinsTake cars our of major hubs of neighborhoods. Make stretches of Fern pedestrian with much more public art. Then beef up #2 service and bike planes to make it easy to get there
Reply2 Agree6 years ago
Danny Offer free art classes for seniors and low income individuals at the rec centers
Reply1 Agree5 years ago
Rachel RuizHave a graffiti wall at Kelly Street park in Linda Vista for local youth to use instead of tagging surrounding area. Provide mini grant funds that residents can apply to for their community art projects.
ReplyAgree5 years ago
Any interpretation/ signage should meet ADA.
ReplyAgree6 years ago

Question title

What other improvements, programs, or partnerships are needed to bring more art and cultural opportunities into the parks and recreation system?

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Karin ZirkAs the City gentrifies, spaces for emerging arts & culture organizations are diminishing. We need to include low cost spaces for these type of experimental groups to have a space to work and showcase their work while they are refining their art. All our parks should have thes...See More
Reply2 Agree6 years ago
Aaron TaylorHave a rotating art exhibit from different cultures... let the local cultural groups apply to be recognized for the area, then once every 2 months each group gets to select new art for their section from someone with in there community!
Reply1 Agree5 years ago
Dawn AdamsRobb Field could use a few shaded quad areas within the park. A Semi Large one where music or a play could be presented and a few smaller ones for Tai-chi (and other) types of practice. These quads should be accessible via a walk way so one does not have to cross the grass to get...See More
ReplyAgree5 years ago
Public venues that have hearing loops for hearing aid and cochlear implant users to use their telecoil setting to hear with better clarity. Note louder amplification becomes quite distorted via hearing aids.
ReplyAgree5 years ago
DannyIncrease public awareness about these programs already exist or are coming soon along with skill level needed to participate in the program, cost, dates, times, etc.
ReplyAgree5 years ago

Environment/Natural Areas

Open space areas conserve and protect sensitive habitat and cultural history, while providing recreational and learning opportunities. San Diego offers both large regional parks and neighborhood open spaces.

Planting more trees in parks, appropriate open spaces, and along trails and streets make communities more comfortable and attractive. 

27,000

Acres of Open Space

60

Open Space Parks and Canyons

200

Miles of Trails

Question title

Environment and open space improvements could include preserving new open space areas, adding nature-based programming, planting more trees and vegetated areas, and designing parks as “green infrastructure.” What ideas do you have for improving the environment and open space in your community and in the City overall?


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Question title

What other improvements, programs, or partnerships are needed to improve and protect environmental and open spaces within the parks and recreation system?

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Karin ZirkMore open space park rangers. More grant writers in park & rec to obtain funding for habitat restoration. More nature walks and programming for children. Move all city owned open space into park & rec with enough staff to restore habitat, restrict mountain bikes to cert...See More
Reply3 Agree6 years ago
Rita Cory Plant more Shady Trees!! And Fenced in Areas for off Lease Dogs to run!!
Reply2 Agree6 years ago
ShaunaProtect Black Mountain open space park from housing developments
Reply2 Agree6 years ago
DanKeep Fiesta island a natural open space. The large uninterrupted space, as it is currently, is the only place I have found in south county that I can run my dogs off leash. This is critical because my dogs won't run on the leash and we both need exercise. Do not approve cutting t...See More
Reply1 Agree5 years ago
Peter StClair1. Vow never again to curtail watering of trees, shrubs and lawns. Lack of irrigation during our drought has lead to a huge increase in dead and dying plants in parks. These are very expensive to replace. Loss of canopy sets back Climate Action Plan. Park and Rec needs to co...See More
Reply1 Agree6 years ago

Parks & Programming

Recreation Trends

Busy lifestyles may not allow for typical, scheduled recreation. People are looking for more activities that they can choose to do at their own pace with a greater focus on health, wellness, and socialization, rather than competition.

Parks as Part of Communities

Parks are part of the fabric of our neighborhoods, making us healthier, safer, and better connected to one another. Nearby parks are also an important strategy for making urban neighborhoods and centers more comfortable, attractive, and livable.

Funding Constraints

Like large, urban systems across the U.S., the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department delivers a wide range of programs and services while maintaining existing facilities and constructing new parks to meet population growth. Continued deferred maintenance will increase the amount of reinvestment necessary to improve park and building conditions. Limited resources require cities to make choices about investments in future parks.

Many cities look for additional funding from:

  • Foundations
  • Special assessments
  • Voter-approved funding
  • Partnerships
  • Private concessions
  • Higher cost recovery from program fees
 

Question title

Parks and programming improvements could include new types and locations of park spaces and facilities and new program services. What ideas do you have for improving parks and programming in your community and in the City overall?


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DannyBalboa Park needs immediate renovations. There is a huge backlog of repairs that needs to get addressed.
Reply1 Agree5 years ago
Margaret cadaveroI would love to see work exchange farming communities that help the homeless receive shelter, food, and rehab in exchange for labor. I think we could build an incredibly strong community of activism that could also work arts into its programs, I have a ton ideas. I would love to ...See More
Reply1 Agree6 years ago
ShaunaMore splash parks needed.
Reply1 Agree6 years ago
Living in San Diego Additional pool hours on the weekend. Most pools only open 12pm-4pm on the weekends, and that is the most dangerous time for sun exposure. Extend or shift hours to stay open until at least 6pm or sunset. Other cities have pool hours well into the evening on weekends. This is a g...See More
ReplyAgree5 years ago
Outdoor Pickleball
ReplyAgree5 years ago

Question title

What other improvements, programs, or partnerships are needed to improve park spaces and services within the parks and recreation system?

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Karin ZirkProper funding for operations and maintenance. Hiring more park rangers.
Reply4 Agree6 years ago
Judy Swink Revenue from the proposed commercializing of Inspiration Point will be a pittance relative to needs in the Park, and once leased, it's gone forever.

There should be no additional, new buildings built on open parkland, including Inspiration Point, which has long been promi...See More
Reply3 Agree5 years ago
Aaron TaylorCommunity Gardens! Places where local residents can grow plants, vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and succulents... As density increases we need to have places for local residents to reconnect with the art of growing and loving nature. Let the land give back to the people!! ...See More
Reply2 Agree5 years ago
Judy SwinkMission Bay Park is in decent shape and getting better thanks to citizens who approved the City Charter amendment which directs lease revenues within the Park into Improvement Funds for Mission Bay Park (65%) and Regional Parks (35%). The amount to Regional Parks, once shared amo...See More
Reply2 Agree5 years ago
Rita Cory Fenced in Areas for Dogs to run off Lease!!
Reply1 Agree6 years ago

What is Your Vision?

The PMP is San Diego’s opportunity to build a world-class park system for all San Diegans based on the following guiding principles.

Relevant

Parks and recreational programs should meet the changing needs and wants of residents.

 

Accessible

Every resident should be able to get to a park space or program safely, conveniently, and actively.

 

Iconic

Parks should reflect the unique qualities of their settings and enhance the image of the City of San Diego and its diverse communities.

 

Sustainable

Park improvements, programs, and management strategies should contribute to community economic development, social well-being, and a healthy environment.

 

Equitable

Every resident should be able to enjoy parks and recreational programs regardless of income, age, race, ability, or geographic location.

 

Let's make our parks... 

Question title

Relevant



I want the city of San Diego parks to provide:

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Accessible


I want to get to parks by:

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Iconic


I think parks are special and unique when they:

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Sustainable



I want parks to be financially, socially, and environmentally sustainable by:

Question title

Equitable


I think parks can be used by people of all ages, races, abilities, incomes, and locations when:

Question title

My vision for San Diego's park system 20 years from now is _____________________.

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Karin ZirkOpen space parks with no pavement to provide a cooling effect to the heat island created by all the buildings. Open space parks that have adequate funding for park rangers, naturalists to provide educational experiences for children, residents, and visitors. All parks being main...See More
Reply4 Agree6 years ago
Jenna Tatumour parks are clean, safe, and easily accessible to all San Diegans, and our zip codes do not predict our parks' services or level of maintenance.
Reply2 Agree6 years ago
Trista SilviaA clean well-maintained park you can get to on foot for all residents.
Reply1 Agree5 years ago
More, more, more! And get rid of cars in Balboa Park's Plaza!
Reply1 Agree6 years ago
jonathan dominyparks should have connections, the san diego river and canyons should have continuous trails to connect communities.
Reply1 Agree6 years ago

Question title

My vision for my neighborhood park 20 years from now is _____________________________.

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Karin ZirkI don't really have a neighborhood park. I live in Pacific Beach and the community parks are over one mile from my house. We need adequate funding. Perhaps a 1/2 a cent sales tax dedicated to San Diego park maintenance so that we can get the services we need. As more people live...See More
Reply4 Agree6 years ago
A walkable path from Normal Heights to the Mission Valley river park/ stadium project.
Reply3 Agree6 years ago
Rachel RuizAt Kelly Street park in Linda Vista - a completely new playground, picnic tables, bbq pits, a viewing point with educational information on Tecolote Canyon and its significance to the Kumeyaay people. No gang activity and safe places for families to have fun and for the community...See More
ReplyAgree5 years ago
DannyMore trees to increase the canopy percentage.
ReplyAgree5 years ago
Gabriela is one that is maintained without machinery that uses fossil fuels and without pesticides.
ReplyAgree5 years ago

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Would you like to receive updates about the San Diego parks planning effort?

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Where do you live?

Move the circle to the area that generally represents where you live or search for your location in the box below.


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