La Mesa’s Collier Park has been under construction since November 2022 and work continues to this day.
Located at 4401 Palm Ave., the park’s master plan details extensive improvements including new restrooms, parking, tennis and pickleball courts, a playground, picnic pavilion, fitness equipment, a nature trail, improved ADA access as well as upgraded drainage, visibility and landscaping.
Collier Park, named after Colonel David Charles Collier, who bought the land in 1907, is La Mesa’s first and oldest public park.
Up until the 2017 Palm & Pasadena entrance update, the area hadn’t had any renovations since the 1990’s. While the current updates are projected to finish toward the end of this year, the restoration is part of a long term plan to refurbish the park based on community input.
The reconstruction has an estimated cost of $4.5 million. Funding has been allocated from park development fees, Federal Community Development Block Grants, La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation donations (for the playground), CA Department of Parks and Recreation Local Assistance Specified Grant funds and CA Proposition 68 Land and Water Bond funds.
Despite the recent rain and gray weather, which CBS 8 reported has measured 9.11” throughout San Diego County, the park’s renovations are set to be finished on time.
La Mesa Community Service Director Sue Richardson further explained the project’s timeline.
“We’re on track for what we said the timeline was,” Richardson said. “We said it would take a year and we closed it on Nov. 1 officially in 2022 and that the project would take about a year and that sort of left it open in terms of a finish date. We’re still way within the date as of right now, even though we did have quite a few rain dates where [construction workers] couldn’t do any work.” Richardson regularly updates the park’s website with photos and additional information on the project.
“You can really see it taking shape now,” Richardson continued. “A few weeks ago they poured the benches and the retaining walls for the slopes. Last week they poured the sidewalks and the tennis court and the bathrooms have been put in. The playground is going to get installed next, then it’ll really start looking great. Our picnic pavilion will be installed soon and they’re starting to put in some irrigation so some landscaping will start showing up.”
Designated as a historic park, interpretive signs will be placed throughout the park, explaining the history of Collier and the Spring House, which is a later phase of remodeling that doesn’t yet have funding.
The park’s new nature playground, benches and amphitheater are made of repurposed eucalyptus trees and logs. The nature trail will also feature medallions in the sidewalk that illustrate various animals and plants.
La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis expressed his excitement over the plan’s completion.
“I believe La Mesa’s parks are an important part of our community because they provide open space for residents to enjoy the activities that interest them,” Arapostathis explained. “The Collier Park Renovation Project will enhance resident’s lives by providing the facilities to enjoy these activities, such as a new lighted tennis and pickleball court, picnic pavilion area, playground and fitness equipment, a nature trail and amphitheater. We are anxiously awaiting completion of the project which should come sometime this fall.”
Additional updates, plans, pictures and more can be found on the project’s website at: tinyurl.com/5474vx4y.
