By Dan Dennison
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park was dedicated by the City of San Diego in 1983 as a City Park. Extending 1.5 miles along the Point Loma Peninsula’s western shoreline, it encompasses 68 acres. In 1988, the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Recreation Council was chartered by the San Diego Park and Recreation Board as the officially recognized advisory group for Sunset Cliffs Natural Park.
Several members of this committee have dutifully served for many years working with the City to preserve, enhance and protect this marvelous natural resource. Their endeavors, spanning over 30 years, have included numerous studies, reports, and efforts to coordinate with third parties such as the California Coastal Commission. Among the most recent activities, a comprehensive Master Plan was completed in 2005 and a detailed drainage study in 2012.
Despite all of the work and financial resources devoted to the Park, very little has been accomplished as outlined in the Master Plan and noted in news outlets both local and national.
Some walking trails have been installed, but the overriding challenge of storm water management and control has yet to be resolved or consensus reached amongst the multiple parties. Issues such as methodology, restoration, erosion control, and uphill run off have yet to be addressed, let alone resolved.
Even organizational basics, such as the mission statement and the future direction of the Park have a long history of controversy. Details about these numerous issues simply cannot be addressed in this brief article.
Earlier this year, the City engaged a local engineering company to design drainage, development and landscape plans for the Park. Last month, the City finally had the consulting engineers present three alternative drainage plans to the Committee. There was considerable concern amongst the Committee members about the content and methodology used in the plans because recommendations previously made by the Committee in 2014 and 2016 were not addressed. The Committee made a decision to withhold endorsement of the new alternative plans. Comments back to the City included re-submission of the recommendations from the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Committee that were not considered or included in the new proposals.
Your involvement in the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is critically needed. The Park is very important to our residents, pollution to the ocean and wildlife. This is your chance to get involved before this beautiful cliff disappears.
Meetings of the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Committee are the first Monday of each month at 6:45 pm at the Cabrillo Recreation Center, 3051 Canon St.
This first appeared in the Point Loma Association newsletter.
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