Plans are forging ahead for a new pocket park on Cañon Street in Point Loma’s Roseville neighborhood, as the city’s selected an architect/consultant for the project, meaning public workshops on it can begin this spring.
KTUA Planning and Landscape Architecture has been selected for environmental, technical and design work for the new pocket park in Point Loma.
Established in 1970, KTUA is a collaboration of planners, landscape architects, GIS analysts, irrigation designers and graphic artists. On its website, the firm stresses pushing the boundaries of a traditional landscape architecture office by incorporating active transportation, community planning, federal planning, and natural resource management practices.
KTUA’s project portfolio includes development of regional parks, including community, neighborhood and waterfront parks, as well as playgrounds, sports complexes, aquatic facilities, campgrounds, recreational trails, golf courses/clubhouses and open space.
Two members of the Peninsula Community Planning Board, chair Jon Linney and Don Sevrens, have campaigned for the new pocket park’s creation, on their own behalf, for years.
Noting there’s been “a lot of behind-the-scenes work” to get the park moving forward, Sevrens said the project presents many challenges, especially “the scope of the work.”
“The city owns the land, which has been donated as a park site,” Sevrens added.
“We’re making traction on the park,” said Linney. “A landscape architect/consultant is almost on board. Public workshops could happen this spring, and we have made arrangements for them to be at the United Portuguese SES Social Hall with ample parking and seating and on the actual street where the park is located.”
Linney said the community is being proactive in doing public outreach on the park, plus meeting with the City’s Commission for Arts and Culture to identify the procedures for having public art here celebrating the neighborhood history and culture. “We have conceptual drawings of one possible vision, and are presenting to civic groups to stimulate community imagination and discussion,” Linney said adding, “This will be a passive, serene pocket park without ballfields, a huge parking lot, restrooms or concrete everywhere. What it will have, if the community chooses, will make it a very special park. A park with play features for children not seen elsewhere. A park with stylized Portuguese compass, history wall and compelling statues. A park with colorful plants and trees that can help residents choose water-thrifty specimens that will thrive in their yards. A park that will help bring the neighborhood together.”
Nearly a year ago, the city council committed $840,000 from Peninsula developer impact fees for design and construction of a new pocket park on a two-thirds-acre lot on Avenida de Portugal above Cañon Street.
Possible park features include items reflecting the neighborhood’s history, culture and nautical connections. “Man at the Wheel” and “Woman and Children Awaiting the Fleet’s Return” statues are being promoted as well as a nautical play structure for children.
“I thank my council colleagues for joining me in approving this new park that will give Peninsula families another place to take their kids, walk their dogs or just enjoy a beautiful San Diego day,” 2nd District Councilwoman Lorie Zapf said previously.
Sevrens said the small size of the project site naturally limits what can be done with it. One idea is for a park statue of women and children looking out to the harbor for the fleet to come back.
“We think the community would be really touched because they can identify with that,” Sevrens said.
Cañon Street is the first public park approved in the Roseville section of Point Loma, 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.
United Portuguese SES, has consented to be the nonprofit buttressing creation of the new pocket park. UPSES and other local civic clubs are pledging money to help pay for extras the community wants in its next park.