Residents of Point Loma’s Roseville neighborhood took the first step in a long-term project, cleaning a vacant lot along Canon Street earmarked for conversion into a pocket park.
In what some are calling a “pivotal moment,” Burtech Pipeline on Jan. 10 provided approximately $15,000 in heavy equipment and supplies and, with the help of several community volunteers, cleaned up the .28-acre open space parcel at the upper end of Avenida de Portugal where it dead-ends before reaching Canon Street.
Removed were cans, bottles and other urban trash as well as dead acacia trees and tumbleweeds that represented a fire hazard. Also cleared were years of accumulated construction debris: steel girders, cinder blocks, blocks of concrete, dumploads of gravel and once-molten asphalt.
Thanks to tree pruning, a dangerous blind curve along Canon Street is now much more visible. It is hoped the clean-up will slow or stop site erosion while money is raised and planning done to develop the park.
The small undeveloped parcel on Canon Street was transferred from the Public Works Department to Park and Recreation on June 30, 2014, and is now a designated park site.
Peninsula Community Planning Group board members Don Sevrens and Jon Linney have been spearheading the community redevelopment project. Sevrens said they approached the city first about doing site clean-up but were told the city “had no money.
“So we asked Burtech,” Sevrens said, “and they agreed to do the work on a Saturday with their own people and equipment at their expense with the help of 11 community volunteers, both neighbors and activists.” Sevrens added the work party was well received. “Motorists driving by gave us the thumbs-up,” he said. “Neighbors left their homes and came up and said, ‘We really approve of what you’re doing. We want a park. Can you put us on a contact/work party list?’”
In a community memo, the two planners noted the site cleanup accomplished a number of goals.
“Now there is something tangible to see, a blank canvas for the features the public wants,” said their statement, noting, “One possibility is a passive walk-in park with trails, water-thrifty plants and signboards celebrating the Portuguese neighborhood’s historic accomplishments.”
Pointing out that “the public will decide what goes in the park,” Sevrens and Linney noted other ideas being floated to redevelop the site include winding trails of decomposed granite with benches, a sculpture celebrating the Portuguese community’s achievements, signboards denoting community history and a playground piece styled after the San Salvador being built at Spanish Landing.
“This will be a quiet place,” assured both community planners. “No restroom, no concrete, no Keep Off The Grass sign.”
There is much more work to do on the project, which is likely to take three to five years to complete.
“We will continue doing outreach, talking to individuals, neighbors and small groups,” said Sevrens. “Once a nonprofit sponsor and financial custodian are in place, we will hold two formal workshops to find out what features the public wants. We will approach the county for a possible grant.”
But Sevrens conceded that “most of the money, maybe all,” is going to have to come through private donations. “To that end, we will do everything we can to keep the cost down,” Sevrens said. “If we can quickly land major donations, great. Otherwise, we anticipate opening the park in phases so the public will be able to see and enjoy the park sooner.”
The planners said a community workshop will likely be scheduled at Portuguese Hall by early summer to receive public input on the pocket park development project.