Construction on the long-awaited Beyer Park in San Ysidro will begin this week, with the goal of completing the 8-acre park by spring 2026, officials announced Tuesday.
Phase 1 of the project, to be built on a 43-acre vacant site, is being funded by several sources, including Mayor Todd Gloria’s Parks for All of Us initiative.
“Beyer Park will be the first new public park in San Ysidro in over 25 years and is an example of our commitment to providing access to quality recreational space for every San Diegan,” Gloria said. “It is also an example of why partnerships matter, and I am grateful to the California Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program and the funds secured by (Rep. Juan Vargas, Democrat, San Diego), which together provided the millions of dollars in funding to make this vision a reality.”
San Ysidro residents have waited decades for a park at this location. A 1974 community plan designated a vacant 6.78-acre site for future park development. Both San Ysidro’s 1990 and 2016 community plans reiterated the call to build Beyer Park along East Beyer Boulevard.
“My top priority is to ensure that District 8 residents have the amenities that ensure a high quality of life, such as parks and libraries,” said Councilwoman Vivian Moreno, whose district includes San Ysidro. “For over 30 years, City Hall promised to build Beyer Park for the residents of San Ysidro. Unfortunately, previous city leaders failed to deliver on that promise. I am proud to have worked closely with community members, especially the youth of San Ysidro, to finally build Beyer Park and give residents the park space they deserve.”
When completed, the park will feature a children’s playground, ball courts, picnic areas, restrooms, a dog park, a skate park, walking trails and public art, city documents say.
Through the San Diego Arts and Culture Commission, artists Ingram Ober and Marisol Rendón have created a work of art for Beyer Park titled “Air Sanctuary.” The work consists of a “single ironwood tree growing within a sculptural enclosure that visually connects with the tree’s growth and also creates a charismatic space to reflect on the life processes of a tree,” according to a statement from the city.
Visitors to the park can watch the tree grow and change with the changing seasons.
Through Parks for All of Us, Beyer Park received $1 million from the Citywide Park Development Impact Fee in March 2024. The project also received a $2.5 million Community Development Block Grant allocation in fiscal year 2023, as well as $8.5 million from the state Park Development and Community Revitalization Grant Program.
For Phase 2 of the project, the federal government awarded a $5 million grant in 2022 from a program aimed at creating more green spaces and outdoor recreation opportunities in underserved areas.
The total cost of the project is approximately $22.4 million.
“The new Beyer Park has been a long time in the making and it is exciting to see it finally come to fruition,” said Andy Field, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. “We thank our many partners, including the San Ysidro community, youth, numerous nonprofits, and the federal and state governments, for their help in funding and building this much-needed park.”
“It is important that all San Diegans have equal access to parks and recreation areas. This brings us one step closer to our goal of making more parks accessible to more people in our city,” he added.
