A graffiti-ridden building wall located north of Loma Verde Elementary was transformed into a colorful mural depicting plants and animals native to the southern California region.
Castle Park High School Coach Jose Cobian, Jr. began the Trojans Loving Our Community Club (TLC) about a year before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students in the club participated in campus and community beautification efforts such as painting over graffiti and picking up trash before the pandemic forced a pause in their efforts.
“The whole purpose is to make our school and our community look nicer, and for students to take pride in their community,” Cobain said.
Upon restarting the club, Cobian reached out to Councilwoman Jill Galvez for help in the late summer of last year. Alongside former city Councilmember and Mike Diaz, Galvez began the Westside Bestside/Graffiti Abatement Project about three years ago to tackle graffiti in northwest Chula Vista.
The project engaged six local high schools, including Castle Park, to paint murals on tagged walls, alleys, and utility boxes. Like TLC, the Westside Bestside/ Graffiti Abatement Project experienced a pandemic-induced pause.
According to Cobian, the best way to avoid graffiti is with artwork.
”When the kids walk around that track and look out the fence, they always see graffiti, vulgar language, and even inappropriate drawings. With this mural, kids can actually look out and take pride in their community,” Cobian said.
Galvez connected Cobain with Chula Vista artists Paul Jimenez and Signe Ditona of Ground Floor Murals, who are responsible for over 20 murals around San Diego and Los Angeles. The artistic duo is also known for the large Padres murals all throughout San Diego.
According to Galvez, the mural was sized up at $10,000 to complete, which was funded by a grant through Blueshield Califronia Promise Health Plan. Castle Park High School Students participated in a meeting with Blueshield of California, the muralists, TLC and the Westside Bestside/Graffiti Abatement Project to plan a design.
It was through the advocacy of Community Relations & Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Barbara Ororzco-Valdivia which made attaining funding for the mural possible.
“The students wanted to see something alive, something vibrant and amazing,” Galvez said.
After some meetings, the muralists finalized a design that depicts a sun setting behind local wildlife and plants.
“We share the land, this region, and we want to remind people of why it's important to take care of our community and our planet,” Cobian said. “A lot of people could look at that mural and have differently and they could think different things, but our animals are pure and beautiful to look at. The way they are depicted in this mural is very peaceful.”
According to Cobian, the recent winter storm that drenched San Diego county during the holidays delayed the mural's completion. The mural will be revealed on Friday, Jan.14 on the north side of SDG&E Park/Loma Verde Park at 1421 Hilltop Drive.
“Students are excited because they know what an eyesore graffiti can be, and a lot of them have siblings at the elementary school, so the last thing they want their siblings to think or feel is that their community is ghetto. We want to shake that mentality here because that's something that has been heard throughout the years in the Castle Park community. We want people to know that this is a community worth investing in, and with a little bit of hard work and connections, we can have a better community,” Cobian said.
Members of the public with inquiries regarding Trojans Loving Our Community Club are asked to email Castle Park High School Coach Jose Cobian, Jr. at jose.cobianjr@sweetwaterschools.org .
