Some History of the Dirt & Kids at the Famosa Pump Track – With Plenty of Questions Remaining

By Katie Mae B.

“It’s the dirt!” they both say in unison. “The unique mix of dirt, sand and organic materials – that is what makes it the perfect dirt.”

You can see the little boys shining through the eyes of the men across from me – Jesse and Darren. These two have been active in Famosa Open Space pump track at different points over a few decades and with the same core group.  Now they are a part of the larger group working together to save the whole space.

What I am about to share is a small snapshot in the infinite time span over which Famosa Open Space has existed in its current state.

Who knows what was here before 1909! What we do know is that it’s all about the dirt. I was fortunate enough to run into the environmental engineers hired last summer to do a report for the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC). They agreed the area was special and said it was the ‘cleanest urban open space they had ever seen’; but since they were ‘not hired to determine that’ it’s not going to be in their report.

The Pump Track has a long and organic history and its evolution has always stemmed from the ingenuity of children.

showing the organic state of the track mounds with flowers growing.

The track back in the 1990s (courtesy of Jesse)

In the 1990s the “bike kids” found asphalt chunks discarded on the side of Nimitz that they could use for a base. The dirt coated them perfectly to make those first mounds for jumping. That small run under the trees evolved into a massive track that took up most of the open space. At its’ height in the late 90s, the pump tracks saw pro-riders perfecting their tricks before their debut at the X Games, just down the street at SeaWorld.

Then one morning it was gone.

In 2012 a group of new and old “bike kids” – now with their own kids – found another organic track opportunity. When the SDHC landscapers came through to chop down all the bamboo in the valley and the dirt covered over the bamboo stumps, another pump track evolved. The kids all enjoyed riding and were thrilled! They loved digging and improving the mounds after the rains. Until they woke up one morning and it was gone.

But this time was different.

Darren and a group of extremely dedicated locals started to work with the City. One of them spent a lot of time downtown talking to City officials.  He prevailed and they were offered the opportunity to rent the space at a rate of $1/month. They were thrilled!

They organized. They had a non-profit to back them. They lined up insurance. They had the pump track plans drawn up. Then the City informed them they needed an Environmental Impact Report and it would cost them $5000. The City hadn’t provided them a rental agreement yet, so what happened once they paid for the EIR? Who did they send it to? No one they talked to in the City offices had any idea what they were talking about. Thus, they found themselves at a dead end.

Darren and author with the bobcat last in 2018.

Thankfully we do have DC Collier’s wishes memorialized in the City’s 1909 Ordinance. It states, in part, that this space should be for the children to use. But for the City’s vote to rezone. But for the SDHC transferring funds to the San Diego Housing Authority so the SDHA could purchase the land using the Gas Tax fund.  Why didn’t the SDHC purchase it themselves?  As the documents show, the City’s Charter banned the SDHC.  But for all these actions decades ago, this land would be exempt from any housing mandates.

So here we are.

A year after the last bobcat was sent to “destroy the pump track” on March 19, 2018. A few upset parents were alerted & showed up in time. If they had to ‘evict’ others to clean up that area of space, then they had to evict us sitting on the track. The crew left. Now, the damage has been repaired and the children are once again thrilled. Thank you to everyone who spent hundred of volunteer hours helping!!

I asked Darren and Jesse if they knew why the SDHC has been so determined to destroy the track. I had personally seen the  work order last year – it said “destroy the pump track” and “take pictures when done”. They both said liability. They had heard, as many of us have, that years ago someone had been badly hurt and their family sued the city for millions. Well, that makes sense right? But it is not true.

The SDHC recently confirmed, via their Public Records response, that that story is urban legend. To be clear – the City has NOT had any injuries reported, lawsuits or other claims of liability over this space to date.  They clarify that they fear the “potential” for liability. Lucky for them, and us, California Government Code Section 831.7 (also known as Recreational Use Law) insulates government agencies from being liable for an individual’s injury during recreational use of open space. The real liability begins when this space is no longer used “as is” or if it ceases to be City owned. Buyer beware!

“No Trespass” sign has wrong number.

One can’t help but wonder why the City’s “powers that be” do not do more to support the community? Why don’t they act to stop the SDHC’s bullying actions? Why don’t they have the trespassing signs removed, especially considering they have the wrong phone number? Why don’t the children have a right to use this open space while they “explore” their options? There has been no shortage to the amount of questions arising this past year.