Editor: Our Councilman Kevin Faulconer joined with County Supervisor Greg Cox to cut the ribbon today, opening – officially – the new Ocean Beach Gateway Park. Here’s the Press Release from Faulconer’s office:
NEWS RELEASE
Office of San Diego City Councilman Kevin Faulconer
Ocean Beach Unveils Gateway as Unique as its Community
Park designed to feature “O.B.” character; funded by donations and grants
SAN DIEGO — Today, Council President Pro Tem Kevin L. Faulconer and County Supervisor Greg Cox joined Ocean Beach residents to cut the ribbon on the first phase of the Ocean Beach Gateway Park. The grand opening is the culmination of 15 years of planning and fundraising by local leaders and the non-profit Ocean Beach Community Development Corporation.
“The Ocean Beach Gateway Park is a beautiful entrance to the neighborhood, designed by the Ocean Beach community, for the Ocean Beach community,” said Faulconer. “I am proud to have collaborated with Ocean Beach residents to bring the vision of a coastal, pedestrian-friendly park to life.”
The City park’s first phase includes a new public plaza featuring a “People’s Wall” that highlights Ocean Beach’s unique community character with donated memorial bricks and tiles; palm and shade trees; bike racks; a water fountain; sidewalk improvements; an improved crosswalk; and greenery. The park captures Ocean Beach’s distinctive personality with a design theme based on a nautical conch shell. Overlooking the popular Robb Field, the Gateway is part of a plan to beautify and enhance the entryway to Ocean Beach. The site was previously an unsightly and empty City-owned lot.
“The North Ocean Beach Gateway Park Project has turned what has been a vacant lot for many years into a magnificent entryway to the community of Ocean Beach,” said Cox. “Where weeds once sprouted, community pride now blossoms.”
Faulconer and Cox authorized for the project grants earmarked to create parkland and enhance older communities. The City of San Diego oversaw design and construction, and will maintain the park.
“The new entrance to Ocean Beach would not be possible without the scores of residents who believed in this project and the past and current volunteer members of the Ocean Beach Community Development Corporation who never gave up,” said Ann Kelsey, member of the OBCDC Board of Directors. “Our organization is grateful for the successful partnership with the City and County of San Diego.”
The Ocean Beach Community Development Corporation has been leading the local campaign for the project since 1997. Its members raised $130,000 in private donations for Phase I. A generous $100,000 was donated from the Hervey Fund through the San Diego Foundation, and an impressive $30,000 came from individual donations through brick and tile sales.
Phase II of the park will complete the 12,900 square foot project, connecting the plaza to Robb Field via a pathway, and installing landscaping and a retaining wall featuring artwork. The second phase is projected to cost $339,000. Fundraising to complete the final section of the Gateway Park has already begun.
Contacts:
Matt Awbrey: 619-929-0089 MAwbrey@sandiego.gov
Luis Monteagudo Jr.: 619-531-5439 Luis.Monteagudo@sdcounty.ca.gov
Ann Kelsey: Ann@obcdc.org
Here’s the link to the OB Rag video on the Park by Doug Beacom.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Gosh Kevin, I am sure you and Carie Nation will be so happy to watch as the trend to controlled drinking continues in OB. After all the idea that the VFW could have a Labor Day Pig Roast with people eating and drinking in the grass with no fenced in area, or FADERLAND SECURITY, is just no longer the American Way.
I can’t believe I had the day off and didn’t know about this today. I always look on here and saw nothing. I could have asked Faulconer when they plan on paying my company all the money they owe us for doing all the excavation so this project could proceed. Not fair at all. City of SD really dropped the ball on this project. I wish I could do more, but don’t think my boss would be happy if I did speak out at a public function.
OB Mercy… call Turko he will help you get your bill paid!
OB Dude…who is Turko and how do I get in touch with him??
I’m not OB Dude, but Turko is Mike Turko at TV news channel KUSI. Call him.
I’m with the guy in the other articles’ comments who so bluntly declared the pizza parlor was a lot better… and would have paid for itself quickly enough.
Maybe we should have done a fundraiser to build another one and in some bizarre “only in OB could marxist philosophies be put to practical use” grand societal experiment, everyone donates a couple hours of their time every other month sweating in the place (aka work) in exchange for free pizza… owned by the people, feeding the people, and we all lived happily ever after. What better way to say “welcome to OB!”
(of course the whole thing would be harpooned before it hit the water, sued into a quick death by OB’s existing pizza vendors)
I left a VM for Turko last Saturday. He said on the msg, that if he doesn’t return the call in a few days, he’s not interested. No response. Guess no one wants to go after the City of SD for this sham of a project.
Update…after a year of “the check is in the mail” lies, the City of SD came through yesterday with one third of what they owe us. Hey, it’s a start.