CHULA VISTA, Calif. (CNS) - As the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center inches closer to transforming South San Diego Bay, Port of San Diego and Chula Vista city officials, along with community members and project partners, celebrated the opening Sweetwater Park Wednesday just north of the development.
Danielle Moore, chair of the Board of Port Commissioners, said she and others "can't wait for the community to come explore and experience this open space."
"Sweetwater Park provides access to a unique and historic area for all residents and visitors of the bayfront," she added. "Every element and feature of this park is designed to highlight the natural habitat, and to provide access to, and appreciation of this land."
The park, the port's 23rd and largest park, will feature 39 acres of recreational space. It is a "natural-habitat oriented" space featuring nature playgrounds, 2 miles of walkways and bike paths, sand dunes, native plants and space for passive activities such as bird watching.
The total cost for Sweetwater Park, including design and construction support, is just under $20 million -- part of which was funded by the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Program through the National Park Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Kumeyaay signage will be featured throughout the park, along with "Rigors of Flight," a public art installation by Roberto Salas.
"This 25-foot-tall sculpture of a furcula, or wishbone, is a tribute to flight taken by birds in the area," according to a statement from the port about Salas' art.
Chula Vista Mayor John McCann said the park creates "a Chula Vista Bayfront for the people."
McCann, also a county District 1 supervisor candidate, said the city is grateful for the partnership with the Port of San Diego and community collaboration to implement Chula Vista's master bayfront plan that will allow residents and visitors substantial access to enjoy the area's wildlife habitat.
"Sweetwater Park opened ahead of the Gaylord Pacific to show that public access and economic development go hand in hand," said Ann Moore, Chula Vista's appointee to the Board of Port Commissioners.
"Projects like Gaylord help make parks like this possible -- creating a new space to connect with the best of nature while protecting our wildlife habitat and coastal resources.
"It's a reflection of the shared vision of the Port, the city of Chula Vista, and our community," Moore added, "and it's just the beginning."
The 535-acre Chula Vista Bayfront redevelopment "envisions a world- class destination in the South Bay -- a unique place for people to live, work and play," according to the port. Chula Vista broke ground on the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center in July 2022, a $1.35 billion project scheduled to open in May with 1,600 rooms.
Gaylord Pacific's plans include a convention center with four ballrooms, three levels of meeting space and two outdoor meeting and event lawns as well as multiple restaurants, a sports bar, resort-style pool and an array of recreational facilities.
The overall Bayfront master plan calls for more than 200 acres of parks, open space, a shoreline promenade, walking trails, RV camping, shopping nand dining. Projects within the master plan are also intended to establish ecological buffers to protect wildlife habitat, species and other coastal resources.
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