A decade-long effort to create a Portuguese-themed Cañon Street Pocket Park in Point Loma finally came to fruition with an Aug. 16 groundbreaking with Peninsula residents joining District 2 Councilmember Jennifer Campbell and City staff onsite.
Construction for the new pocket park over the next year is to include a children’s playground, picnic areas, walkways, landscaping, safety lights, storm drain systems, landscaping, irrigation, fencing, and a public art piece.
“It would not have happened without Don (Sevrens) and it’s a tribute to perseverance for the community,” said Peninsula Community Planning Board president Fred Kosmo at the groundbreaking. Discussing obstacles Kosmo noted: “The main one was trying to get the funding for the park, and then the delays. We’d get a budget, and then they (City) would say ‘The construction cost has gone up.’ So then they didn’t have anybody (contractor) to do it. Eventually, we came up with a plan to build half the park, and then try to find the money to do the second half. We pushed that, and then, all of a sudden, we had all of the money.”
Kosmo said the planning board made the pocket park a top priority on their list of needs to Campbell’s office, and District 2 “helped pushed for it.”
“I’m grateful to a lot of people who helped,” said Don Sevrens, a community activist who shepherded the pocket park throughout its development. “It (project) was kind of stuck, needed funds to bridge the funding gap, and (COVID and other) delays caused their toll.”
“We’re pleased this (park) is being done,” said Kelly Madruga representing United Portuguese S.E.S. Hall of San Diego. “It’s really nice. It will be great for the kids. The park is at the end of Avenida de Portugal and the (Portuguese) hall is down the street. So, it gives us a great sense of community here.”
“Parks are a wonderful space for families, children, and people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors and be healthy,” said Campbell during the groundbreaking ceremony. “The Cañon Street Pocket Park will enhance the lives of families and children in the Point Loma community, and it will turn a vacant lot into a beautiful area for generations to enjoy.”
“After thorough planning and design effort, we are excited to kick off work on Cañon Street Pocket Park in the Peninsula community,” said Rania Amen, City engineer and director of the City’s Engineering and Capital Projects Department. “In less than a year, we plan to transform this unused hillside into a three-quarter acre park where families can get out and enjoy.”
A public art piece, Horizon Dock, has been commissioned by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture. Artist Nate Page uses traditional Portuguese tiles to tell the story of the local fishing industry, allowing viewers to symbolically look out to sea.
Construction is expected to start this week with project completion expected in summer 2024.
