At the time of this writing, coronavirus (COVID-19) has turned everyday life upside down. We are now practicing social distancing, a term few of us knew before this global pandemic made its way around the world and into our lives. This event has not only demonstrated our collective vulnerability and global interconnectedness, but also how much we depend on one another when faced with challenges, and how together we can persevere.

Our community is suddenly engaged in the global response to COVID-19. The park is closed until further notice and our regularly scheduled walks and activities have been canceled. Even the new class of Trail Guides, the largest class in the park’s history, will have to modify its typical schedule, hit the “pause” button until it is deemed safe to again gather as a group.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor and Interpretive Center. In this and forthcoming articles, we will include a history of the park’s founding, from the purchase of Cowles Mountain in 1974 to Mission Trails’ most recent milestone — the opening of the new Field Station in the East Fortuna Staging Area.

The new Field Station project was decades in the making and, like the Visitor Center, was another successful collaboration between members of the community, the City of San Diego, and the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation.

In times like these, we realize what we take for granted. A simple handshake and trip to the market presently carry much weight, and the freedom to choose from many recreational opportunities in San Diego is no longer an option.

As you read this article, I encourage you to consider all that Mission Trails Regional Park means to you, and make a plan to explore the new Field Station in healthier times. It is Mission Trails’ most recent example of what’s possible when people work together.

— Jennifer Morrissey