A second community workshop is scheduled for June 15 at 6 p.m. at Helix Charter High School, Room 1300 and via Zoom* to provide an update on the results of public input received from the March 16 workshop and community input survey. Two concept plans for the new park at Waite Drive will be presented for those interested to provide feedback. *Zoom link coming soon.

In March 2012, the County of San Diego notified the City of La Mesa of the availability of the former Lemon Grove Road Station, a 2.84 acre site on the northwest corner of Waite Drive and Murray Hill Road in La Mesa.

The property had undergone environmental cleanup in April 2000 and in December 2011, the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) signed off and closed the case. As part of its due diligence, the City of La Mesa hired an outside consultant to conduct an minvironmental site assessment of the property to confirm there were no remaining hazardous materials.

On July 2012, the site was purchased by the City for $650,000, over the course of a four-year period using park impact fees which are designed to mitigate the impact of new development on municipalities, existing facilities and infrastructure for residential developments.

The 2012 City of La Mesa Park Master Plan identified a future park at Waite Drive and Murray Hill Road as a valuable option for a potential park site to partially meet the City’s neighborhood park deficiency.

Over the past few years, the property has been used intermittently by City contractors and partner agencies for construction material lay-down.

In December 2021, the City received funding through the California State Department of Recreation Local Assistance Specified Grant program to create a master plan for the proposed park.

A community workshop was held March 16 of this year via Zoom to provide information for the plan to build a new park, introduce existing conditions and future opportunities and to gather input and priorities. The workshop was followed by a survey to gather additional information from the public (From March 16 – April 11, 2022).

To view the workshop visit: youtu.be/y0ygt9VYbBE.

See workshop presentation slides AQUÍ

For more information visit: cityoflamesa.us/1693/New-Park-at-Waite-Drive, or contact the City of La Mesa at (619) 667-1300 or [email protected].