After years of community effort, the City has finally agreed to expedite plans to construct a new pocket park for Cañon Street in Point Loma.
“The three-quarter acre Point Loma pocket park is funded, the selected contractor, Dick Miller Construction, Inc., has signed the contract, and everything after nine-plus years is in expedited mode,” said Don Sevrens, who’s spearheaded the park-improvement project. “Expedited means the process has been cut from the typical 18 months down to 12 months, nine for construction and three for plans getting established.”
Sevrens noted City project manager Kevin Nguyen told him lawyers are now going over the documents. “He expects construction to start by the end of July or shortly after that,” Sevrens said adding, “Nguyen says that barring extended rainy weather, he believes Labor Day 2024 is a realistic opening goal.”
The design for the park was approved after a series of public meetings years ago, according to Sevrens. He said the architectural firm of KTU&A did the landscape design. “Its contract calls for it to monitor the completion,” Sevrens said while pointing out that “any changes in the design from what it was two years ago, are unlikely barring physical impossibilities, as change orders are costly.”
Of the design of the new Cañon Street pocket park, project proponents released this statement: “One of the highlights of the park’s design is the captivating public art piece by artist Nate Page. Unveiled in a drawing, the art installation will feature a land-based dock, symbolizing the historical connection of Portuguese fishermen who settled in Point Loma and extending into the future towards the breathtaking San Diego Bay skyline. The San Diego Arts and Culture Council, led by Christine E. Jones, is committed to moving forward with the plans, including the involvement of early sponsors, United Portuguese SES, and the Point Loma Association, who have been instrumental in supporting the volunteer effort. Additionally, Mayor Todd Gloria played a vital role in securing the necessary funding for the park.”
Located at the end of Avenida de Portugal, the new pocket park’s working title refers to it as Cañon Street Park, even though it cannot be seen from the Cañon Street roadway due to its elevated position. “The park will feature play equipment, with a stylized version of explorer Juan Cabrillo’s galleon, providing an engaging play experience for children and comfortable seating for parents to enjoy the park’s serene ambiance,” the community statement said. “With the project now in full swing, the community eagerly anticipates the park’s grand opening. As construction progresses and the park begins to take shape, the pocket park is poised to become a cherished gathering place and a symbol of Point Loma’s rich history and vibrant future. The community is grateful to have a neighbor leader like Don Sevrens. Thank you for all the work you have done to make this park a reality for Point Loma.”
On March 8, 2016, the City Council voted unanimously to earmark $840,000 from Peninsula developer impact fees for the design and construction of a new pocket park on a two-thirds-acre lot on Avenida de Portugal above Cañon Street. The new pocket park is in Roseville in Point Loma, one of the City’s oldest neighborhoods. It is the first public park approved in Roseville, which is “underparked” in terms of being well below the city’s population-based minimum standard of 2.8 acres in parkland per 1,000 population.
