SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – Located in the heart of Barrio Logan and under the bridge to Coronado sits Chicano Park, one of San Diego’s most treasured landmarks -- an expanse of open space the surrounding community fought hard to keep.
In the early 1970s, people living in Barrio Logan banded together to keep a California Highway Patrol station from being built. Resident then created the park they were always promised.
Barrio Logan community member Victor Ochoa watched it all happen.
"The park in itself acts as kind of like an obstacle to just eradicate our heritage, our history, our community," Ochoa said.
That history is depicted all over the park in the form of roughly 80 murals, many of which Ochoa painted.
He said the park is truly representative of the community because of its lack of censorship and abundance of giant canvases to tell important stories and showcase notable people.
As the park prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, Ochoa said it's taken on a whole new meaning for him.
"I see the spiritual energy more and more in the park and the murals, and the murals become even more historical documents,” he said.
Chicano Park will mark its 50th anniversary on April 20, 2020.
