Due to a request from the San Diego Police Department, the City has closed a dirt parking lot next to Robb Field in Ocean Beach.
The parking lot in question is west of the western-most baseball diamond at Robb Field. The usual entrance to this lot is a driveway off of West Pt Loma Blvd., right next to the old pump station west of Bacon St. That entrance is gated with temporary fencing.
There are numerous paper signs posted around the lot indicating indefinite closure.
A few people have managed to sneak around between the baseball diamond and the river trail/jetty with their vehicles. There were three vehicles there the afternoon the Rag visited the site. There was also a tent with several people camped out.
There are “newer” signs stating no camping along the river trail.
The Rag called the number on the paper sign which was for the Robb Field rec center. The person who answered the phone said that the lot was closed per SDPD request. She said it was probably because of camping and abandoned vehicles. She had no idea when the lot will reopen.
(hat tip to Tyler Brand)
This is a goddamned stupid reaction to a problem. That lot is used by many. many people who are causing no problems. Get out there and enforce the law on the few instead of punishing everyone else. I am sick and tired of the complete lack of law enforcement everywhere.
So we all in OB suffer collectively yet AGAIN because of the homeless problem and “van lifers” who park there illegally. How about ticketing the f out of them like you do ordinary citizens on mornings at 6:59 am!! So infuriating the lack of overall justice.
Joyce,
You’re right. The issue is and always has been enforcement.
The City has municipal codes and refuses to enforce them.
Closing off this lot is their classic strategy. Close the lot so the abandoned vehicles and camping will go somewhere else.
I agree with Geoff and Joyce. This was a typical sledgehammer response from the city.
I live across the street and at times this lot was heavy with vehicle dwellers but in the many, many years I’ve lived here I have only heard and witness a couple of fights amongst the homeless and some jackass doing doughnuts in the lot a couple of times.
But closing the lot will not stop people who want to be there. There is an accessible dirt road on the Northside of the ball fields. Some residents have already started using it and parking in the lot. If they do it, more will follow.
Also, there is an apartment complex that has its trash bin in the dirt lot and the trash truck can no longer get to it. So, that’s gonna be a nightmare.
I have an idea. How about the city actually pay a living wage, recruit enough staff, lower the barriers to getting a job at the city, and actually have the staff to enforce the laws they already have on the books.
Agreed!
The paved lot for Robb Field seems more populated with homeless people in vehicles. The stretch by the river is especially gritty. Sad to lose access to that little lot that that always had spots and provided for a short, beautiful walk to dog beach.
Even though Robb Field is the closest playground to our house, we very seldom ever go there due to the playground being old and mostly neglected and the over abundance of homeless lounging around. Crazy contrast to the TWO new playgrounds on Mission Bay that are directly adjacent.