Learn about current park closures and updates.
03/09/22
The San Diego River stretches 52 miles from its headwaters in the Cuyamaca Mountains near Julian to its mouth at the Pacific Ocean in San Diego. The County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is involved in efforts to preserve, restore and enhance the San Diego River and surrounding areas with regional conservancies, cities, foundations, land use developers and others. One of these efforts is to create a continuous trail along the San Diego River to provide residents and visitors with an opportunity to explore and appreciate this unique resource. This is the San Diego River Park and Trail project.
There have been numerous efforts to develop a continuous trail and park system along the San Diego River. Groups have developed visions and plans for the project with feedback from stakeholders, resident and the public. Some of these efforts are listed and linked below:
The San Diego River Park Foundation - Conceptual Plan (2002)
County of San Diego - Community Trails Master Plan (2005)
City of San Diego - River Park Master Plan (2013)
The San Diego River Conservancy - Recreational Trail Plan (2020)
San Diego River Trail Funding Feasibility Analysis
In March 2021, the County Board of Supervisors convened a task force to identify issues for the San Diego River Park and Trail. One major issue identified by the task force was that there is no funding source to acquire land, build trail, support ongoing operations and maintenance, or complete other projects for the San Diego River Park and Trail.
To address the need for funding, DPR is taking a lead role to identify and assess reliable, long-term financing options for priority projects along the San Diego River. DPR has commissioned a study – the San Diego River Trail Funding Feasibility Analysis – to identify candidate funding options and evaluate which funding option could be the best fit. The study is funded through a Nov. 3, 2021 allocation from the County Board of Supervisors to DPR.
The results of the Funding Feasibility Analysis will be presented at a June 2022 Board of Supervisors Meeting, where the Board will consider the study and discuss next steps to implement a funding option.
Public Involvement
Feedback and input on the San Diego River Trail Funding Feasibility Analysis can be submitted through an online survey, available here (link coming soon).
A public meeting where stakeholders and community members can get information and share feedback will occur in Spring 2022.
Information about the June 2022 Board Meeting, where the Funding Feasibility Analysis will be presented, can be found at this link. Closer to the date, call-in details will be made available on this page.
A link to the Funding Feasibility Analysis will be shared on this website after the June 2022 Board Meeting.
Contact & Questions
The Project Manager for the Funding Feasibility Analysis is Lizzy Bendrick, Trails Program Manager, Resource Management Division, DPR. If you are interested in being placed on a mailing list to receive updates about this study - or if you have questions or input to share, please email trails@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Opportunities to tune in, share feedback and track progress will be shared through these email updates, as well as on this web page.
