The United States Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland joined San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Councilwoman Vivian Moreno, and representatives from the California Natural Resources Agency on Dec.8 in a press conference in Beyer Park to announce a state-wide initiative aimed to conserve, protect, and increase access to public lands and urban green spaces.
A bipartisan Infrastructure law will help fund climate crisis resiliency and protect communities in California by making “once-in-a generation” investments of over $500 million to the infrastructure of natural and physical spaces. Beginning Dec.8 kicked off Secretary Haaland’s five-day visit to the west coast as a part of President Joe Biden’s “Building a Better America” tour.
“For the 80 percent of Americans who live in or near cities, urban green spaces provide vital access to nature and outdoor recreation, advancing environmental justice while also boosting local economies. Through key initiatives like America the Beautiful, we are working to ensure that every community has a meaningful chance to engage with the outdoors,” said Secretary Haaland. “I believe strongly that getting young people in touch with nature early and often is key to building long-term relationships between communities and their surroundings. If we can help more people access nature – we will help lift up the next generation of stewards for this Earth.”
The Outdoors for All initiative is a statewide effort launched by Gov. Gavin Newsom will fund 112 community parks projects in more than 30 counties statewide by allocating $548.3 million in grant funding. This initiative will additionally construct 50 brand new parks and expand or renovate another 62 park systems. Haaland noted Beyer Park will receive $8.5 million in a State Parks grant award to help further build out the park and expand equitable access to the neighboring communities.
The newly state-funded Beyer Park will be the first public park created in San Ysidro in more than 25 years. The project will convert vacant open space currently fenced off from public use into a new 13-acre park.
Local parks receiving state funding include: El Toyon Park in National City, $5.6 million; Fallbrook Local Park, $1.2 million; Avenida De Benito Juarez Park in Vista, $1.1 million; the Patty Davis Park in Chula Vista, $1.9 million; and the Eucalyptus Park in Chula Vista, $7.1 million.
In addition to historic funding for climate resiliency initiatives and the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program, the law provides for a five-year reauthorization of the Federal Lands Transportation Program, which will help invest in repairing and upgrading National Park Service roads, bridges, trails and transit systems.
