08.22.2023

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Today’s Forecast

🦋 A new look for an old park

Renovations coming to Eucalyptus Park in Chula Vista

This is what it could look like to enter Eucalyptus Park. | Rendering via City of Chula Vista

Eucalyptus Park in Chula Vista is preparing for changes before its 100th birthday. The ~20-acre space was recently approved for an $8.7 million renovation project that will upgrade its existing amenities and welcome new ways to use the park.

Why now?

Locals have been visiting Eucalyptus Park since 1927 — making it one of the oldest community parks in San Diego County. While it offers many amenities, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann said current offerings were “piece-mealed” and need repair. In 2022, the city received state grant funding and will put that toward improving the park.

Skate park rendering at Eucalyptus Park. — Eucalyptus Park will be a great spot to skate.
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Rendering via City of Chula Vista

The new Eucalyptus Park

The city held community workshops to gather feedback, understand what locals want, and inform the redevelopment plan. Earlier this year, Chula Vista City Council approved a master plan that includes:

A plaza for skating, biking, and scooters
Four pickleball courts
Splash pads
ADA-compliant paths and lighting
A second playground and fitness equipment
A second dog park
An artificial turf field with lighting
New fencing, landscaping, and storm basins
Improvements to the existing playground, bathrooms, picnicking areas, basketball and tennis courts, and baseball fields

In the winter, the park’s namesake eucalyptus trees tend to attract migrating monarch butterflies. The insects will be incorporated into design elements within new structures like the splash pads.

Splash pad rendering for Eucalyptus Park with a butterfly-themed sprinkler. — Cool off at this butterfly-themed splash pad.
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Rendering via City of Chula Vista

What’s next?

While the master plan has already been approved, the final design drawings are scheduled to be completed this November. Construction is expected to begin in 2024, with completion in March 2025. You can follow Chula Vista’s project page for more information including updates and park closures during construction.

Events

Tuesday, Aug. 22

“The Office” Trivia | Tuesday, Aug. 22 | 6-8 p.m. | Liberty Public Market, 2820 Historic Decatur Rd., San Diego | Free | If you know Dwight answers, your team could win a prize; plus partake in the costume contest.
San Diego Padres vs. Miami Marlins | Tuesday, Aug. 22 | 6:40 p.m. | Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego | $23+ | The first 40,000 fans score a Ha-Seong Kim Bobblehead giveaway.
Duran Duran | Tuesday, Aug. 22 | 7 p.m. | North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, 2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista | $20-$200 | The rock legends bring the “Future Past” tour with guests Bastille and Nile Rodgers & CHIC.
Chlöe: “The In Pieces Tour” | Tuesday, Aug. 22 | 8 p.m. | Observatory North Park, 2891 University Ave., San Diego | $19-$40 | “Have Mercy,” the rising R&B star performs live.

Wednesday, Aug. 23

Patchwork Presents Decoupage Shells Trinket Dishes | Wednesday, Aug. 23 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Mike Hess Brewing, 4893 Voltaire St., San Diego | $45 | Make a set of three beachy dishes with step-by-step instructions.
Muy Funny Comedy Show | Wednesday, Aug. 23 | 7:30 p.m. | Mic Drop Comedy, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego | $18 | Leo Saavedra hosts a show featuring a roster of Latino comedians.

Thursday, Aug. 24

Healthy Adventures: Cooking Around the World | Thursday, Aug. 24 | 4-5 p.m. | Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego | Free | The Healthy Adventures Foundation teaches how to make nutritional, international dishes at this class for middle school students and teens.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Civic

Yesterday, city leaders — including Mayor Todd Gloria and Chairwoman Nora Vargas — provided updates on the impact of Tropical Storm Hilary. Chief Operating Officer Eric Dargan reported no deaths or “major catastrophe,” but over the next few days crews will work to assess the extent of damage and prioritize repairs.

Today Is

The first day of school for the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) — the largest district in the county. Classes were scheduled to begin yesterday, but SDUSD delayed the first day of school out of an “abundance of caution” due to storm impacts.

Open

Tails are wagging because the University Heights Off-Leash Dog Park is now open. This project has been in the works for over a decade and is located on the San Diego Unified School District Headquarters lawn near the El Cajon Boulevard Sign.

Community

The City of San Diego followed its regular trash and recycling collection schedule this week, but some homes may have been missed — especially if bins were put away to follow storm protocols. If your trash was not collected, report this to the city using the Get It Done app.

Number

$5.333. That was the average cost of a gallon of regular, self-serve gasoline in San Diego County yesterday, according to AAA. This number includes a 2.6-cent price jump on Friday, Aug. 18, the largest single-day increase since Oct. 1, 2022. (Times of San Diego)

Concert

It’s the last week of the summer to tune into Balboa Park’s Twilight Concerts. There are three nightly shows — tonight through Thursday, 6:30-7:30 p.m. This week’s schedule features the Coronado Concert Band, Lady J & Soulful Knights, and Navy Band Southwest.

Read

One Book, One San Diego — a communal reading program for kids, teens, and adults founded by KPBS in partnership with 80+ libraries — announced its 2023 selections. The nominated title for adults is “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together” by Heather McGhee. (KPBS)

Announced

Season passes for 2024 are now available at SeaWorld San Diego and Sesame Place. Guests who purchase passes will receive unlimited entry to the park for the remainder of 2023, too, though there are some blackout dates this year.

Weather

🌧 It’s raining records

Rainfall totals from Hurricane Hilary

National Weather Service rainfalls San Diego Count Hurricane Hilary

Rainfalls reported on Monday, Aug. 21. | Image via National Weather Service

San Diego had a wet start to the week thanks to rain from Tropical Storm Hilary — the first storm of its kind to make landfall in 84 years. This historic event also soaked San Diego County with rainfall totals that shattered records.

According to the National Weather Service, the City of San Diego tallied 1.82 inches of rain on Sunday, Aug. 20, its highest total ever recorded for a day in August. The same record was set in Oceanside Harbor (2.38 inches), Ramona (2.03 inches), and El Cajon (1.86 inches).

The storm also drenched Cuyamaca (4.11 inches), Escondido (2.66 inches), and Vista (2.12 inches). These single-day measurements surpass rainfall records in those communities for the entire month of August.

More impressive rainfall totals:

Mount Laguna: 7.11 inches
Fallbrook: 3.08 inches
Carlsbad: 2.50 inches
Encinitas: 2.14 inches
Borrego Springs: 2.01 inches

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Michael

From the editor

I hope all of the students who are heading back to school today — or in the next few days — have wonderful starts to their academic years. I haven’t had a first day of school in quite a while, but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped learning. Writing for SDtoday has taught me so much, and I feel like our City Guides are San Diego 101 courses.

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