On the Road to Fixing Canyonside Drainage

by Scott Peters
for the Corridor News
October 2002

If you or your children play baseball or soccer in Rancho Penasquitos you have probably had to put up with muddy grass and standing water on the fields at Canyonside Park. As a parent and a baseball and soccer coach I know that although kids sometimes view getting muddy during a slide tackle as a badge of honor, we parents are less enthusiastic about putting our muddy kids in the car, or having to tromp through mud to cheer them on. This is why I made it one of my top 10 priorities to fix the drainage problems that have plagued Cayonside Park.

There are several reasons for the flooding, including the fact that the park sits in a flood plain. It is also surrounded by several natural springs that drain into the basin of the park, allowing a constant stream of water to settle onto the fields even when it doesn't rain. This creates a muddy mess for kids and adults and a maintenance nightmare for Park and Recreation staff. Soon after I was elected, I saw a sign on a backstop at Canyonside Park that said something to the effect of: "Call Scott Peters and demand that he fix the drainage!"

Many of you did call and your message was heard loud and clear and we have been working for some time now to improve the drainage at Canyonside Park. The first step was to complete a drainage study that identified the causes and recommended solutions to the flooding problem. The Water Department recently completed that study in conjunction with another project in the area. Since the completion of the study, I have secured $100,000 in City general fund money and worked with the community to get an additional $500,000 approved to complete the funding required for the improvements

With the study done and funding secured we are ready to begin fixing the problem. The next step will be an environmental analysis required by the California Environmental Quality Act. One of Canyonside Park's wonderful features is its proximity to Penasquitos Canyon and creek. The park is situated within the City's Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) area, and this proximity to wild and sensitive habitat means that we need to be particularly careful that the project does not harm the fragile environment that resides so close to our fields. This may mean a slightly longer than normal review process because State and Federal wildlife agencies will be involved.

The environmental review process can be long and complicated, but I will do everything I can to ensure the timely completion of the drainage improvements while protecting the natural environment that makes this area so unique. If all goes smoothly, construction of the drainage improvements will begin by late Spring of 2003. Once underway, it is anticipated the improvements will take approximately two months to complete.

Fixing the basic infrastructure of our City has been a priority for me at City Hall, and taking care of what we already have is essential in maintaining a high quality of life for District 1 residents.