For decades the inappropriate use of the De Anza peninsula area has denied locals and visitors proper access and use of this portion of Mission Bay Park. It is now time to select a plan that balances the needs for increased natural habitat, improved recreation, and also provides unique educational opportunities.
12 Reasons Mission Bay Gateway is the Optimal Plan
Mission Bay Gateway (MBG) is a much more balanced plan between recreation, education and the environment. MBG takes into account the addition of 80-90 acres of wetlands and habitat to the west of Rose Creek. In addition, the MBG encourages intertwining wetlands and habitat within the golf course and project generally. “ReWild” plans discount the additional wetlands and habitat to the west of Rose Creek and suggest destroying useful public recreation land on the De Anza peninsula for the wetland. “ReWild” drives people and activities away from the shoreline.
MBG improves and expands all current uses, eliminates none and adds new uses and facilities. Other plans take a pick and choose approach eliminating or significantly reducing uses and facilities.
MBG emphasizes and encourages the joint-use of facilities. This strategy increases the use of all facilities at all times of the year and makes all facilities available to the public as well as visitors. This will generate more revenue for paid venues such as the tennis facility, golf course, and aquatic center. Other plans make no accommodation for joint use.
An Aquatic Center - Pacific Beach has no community pool. MBG includes an Olympic size pool for competitions and training as well as a lagoon pool for family play and general enjoyment. The competition pool could be used to enhance community and Mission Bay High School sports as well as attract sporting events and competitions to the area. Restroom/locker/shower facilities can be shared between the aquatic center and the tennis facility. Other plans have no aquatic center.
An Amphitheater – As a gathering place, this area of Mission Bay Park should include a venue for outdoor concerts and theatrical productions. This could also be utilized by Mission Bay High School students. Currently, there is no location for these events in Mission Bay Park. Other plans have no amphitheater.
Skate Park – Ocean Beach, Linda Vista and Clairemont communities each have skate parks. These are very popular sporting venues particularly for teens and young adults. This venue would be useful to the camping visitors, community members, and regional visitors. Other plans have no skate park.
Camping is expanded not reduced – Other plans eliminate camping or radically reduce it. Virtually any day or night of the year Campland has higher use density than any other part of Mission Bay Park. Camping is the low-cost opportunity to stay overnight in Mission Bay Park and near the coastline. Campland is used by many San Diego County locals as a “staycation” location.
Mission Bay Gateway utilizes the current infrastructure. Using a significant amount of infrastructure reduces costs and the construction impacts on the environment. Cost savings justify requiring a Guest Housing lessee to build out all joint-use facilities. This makes the MBG much more financially feasible. Other plans ignore and destroy most existing infrastructure.
The Mission Bay Gateway plan is much more economical. This plan is paid for entirely without using any Mission Bay Park or city funding. Other plans have no funding plan and because they are more costly to implement will likely require additional external funding.
MBG enhances revenue generation. By expanding camping, making facilities joint use and enhancing the area this part of Mission Bay Park will be even more attractive and used by more people more often. Over 20% of gross revenues are being paid to the city from lessees such as Campland. Other plans significantly reduce revenues.
MBG includes a nature interpretive center. This would be a natural extension of the high school and take advantage of being in proximity to a bay, marine habitat, creek and watershed outfall.
The Mission Bay Gateway plan is more responsive to the public feedback received and the needs of the community, Mission Bay High School and the regional visitors.