Why?
Why?
Shifts in lifestyles, demographics, technology, and patterns of community development have fundamentally reshaped recreation in the City of San Diego. These changes have transformed the way the City prepares for the future of housing, jobs, transportation, and the environment, and the way it plans for meeting recreational needs.
California Tower at Balboa Park
The 2008 General Plan identified the need for a new Parks Master Plan. The Parks Master Plan aligns parks planning with the City of San Diego’s vision to achieve the shared Citywide goals of sustainability and resilience, equity, livability, and connectivity. The development of the Parks Master Plan will help implement the Climate Action Plan by providing a framework for thriving public spaces to be enjoyed by residents and visitors throughout the City.
Parks Master Plan Vision
Parks Master Plan Vision
- Interconnected Citywide park system
- Provide thriving recreational spaces in areas with easy access to transit
- Allow for flexiblity and innovation to provide unique recreational opportunities
- Prioritized investments in parks in areas with the greatest needs
- Easy walk, bicycle, and transit access to parks
- Opportunities for everyone to play outside and make social connections
Liberty Station - Popup Ice Skating
Tweet Street Mini Park
Little Italy Piazza
Public Outreach
Public Outreach
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Citywide statistically valid survey
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15 workshops and community events
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Online Public Engagement Forum
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Online surveys
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Recommendations of approval from Parks and Recreation Board, Balboa Park Committee, Mission Bay Park Committee, Mobility Board, and Planning Commission
What We Learned
Satisfaction with Facilities and Programs
Satisfaction with Facilities and Programs
67% Very Satisfied and Satisfied, 25% Neutral, 6% Dissatisfied, 2% Very Dissatisfied
Just over two-thirds (67%) of residents were satisfied or very satisfied with the City's Parks and Recreation Facilities/Programs
Upgrades to Parks and Park Facilities
Upgrades to Parks and Park Facilities
96% of residents think upgrades to existing public restrooms are important, 94% of residents think upgrades to existing regional parks are important, 95% of residents think upgrades to existing public parks are important, 94% of residents think upgrades to existing beaches and shoreline parks are important, 92% of residents think upgrades to security of parks are important
How We Currently Plan
The City currently uses the General Plan acreage-based standard of 2.8 acres per 1,000 population to plan for future parks on a community plan area basis. As the City has developed, this current standard creates some challenges:
- Limits comprehensive planning for an interconnected Citywide parks system
- Urbanized areas lack available land
- Funding and staffing limits
- Can create further inequities in parks throughout City, particularly in Communities of Concern
City of San Diego Existing Parks
Parks Master Plan Recommendations
Parks Master Plan Equity Goals
Parks Master Plan Equity Goals
Acknowledges historical inequities in the City’s parks system experienced by people who live in communities of concern and promotes equal access to enjoy the many physical and social benefits of public parks and recreation services. Future park investments to be prioritized in the areas where the needs are greatest, including:
Parks Master Plan Park
10-20-30-40 Minute
Access Goal
Parks Master Plan Park
10-20-30-40 Minute
Access Goal
Sets a travel time goal for reaching a meaningful recreational opportunity and promotes equity across communities to ensure all San Diegans sets a travel time goal to achieve:
- 10-minute walk
- 20-minute bike ride or micro-mobility ride
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In addition, it includes 20 and 30 minute bike and transit access goals to increase mobility options for everyone to access a more diverse range of recreational experiences throughout the City.
These time goals are measured by access to a park that can be enjoyed for at least 40 minutes, meaning that the park should be safe, activated, and fun, to be enjoyed for a good amount of time.
- In addition to a 10-minute walk to a safe and enjoyable nearby park, 20- and 30- minute bike and transit access goals increase mobility options for everyone to access a more diverse range of recreational experiences throughout the City
Bankers Hills Open Space and Spruce Street Suspension Bridge
Walk Access to City of San Diego Existing Parks
New Recreational Value-Based Park Standard
How did we develop the new Park Standard?
How did we develop the new Park Standard?
How we collect park fees now
How we collect park fees now
The City currently sets and collects fees on a community planning area level. A few challenges we face are:
- Restricts City's ability to deliver parks sooner even when money is otherwise available
- While parks are to be enjoyed by all residents, the fees collected must be spent within the community it was collected
- Funds not always spent on parks
- Fees can greatly vary between communities
Citywide Park Development Impact Fee
Citywide Park Development Impact Fee sets a standard impact fee across the entire city allowing the City to:
- Deliver parks faster with access to a larger pool of funds
- Prioritize park investments where they are needed the most
- Efficient use of land to provide more recreational assets at lower cost
Conceptual before and after images of potential park upgrades on existing City land implemented with a Citywide Park impact fee
Complete Communities:
Play Everywhere
Complete Communities: Play Everywhere
The Parks Master Plan is part of the City of San Diego's Complete Communities initiative. For more information on Complete Communities please visit:
Other Elements of Complete Communities include:
Complete Communities: Housing Solutions