Conceptual Plan for the River Park

In 2004 the Conservancy partnered with graduate students at Cal Poly Pomona's Graduate School of Architectural Design to create a comprehensive conceptual plan and design guidelines for Lakeside's River Park, with recommendations for linking the park to the surrounding community. Collectively called Studio 606, the graduate students held workshops which provided the residents of Lakeside with a chance to contribute to their future.

Students, parents and community members were asked about their attitudes, desires and concern for their hometown. They participated in discussions and took surveys which allowed them to comment on what amenities would be most beneficial to maintain the “small town” feel of Lakeside while uniting the community.

Studio 606 students also gathered data in order to understand local geology, river hydrology, the effects of the local climate, natural resources, wildlife resources, Lakeside’s cultural history and demographics. They spent over a year compiling research and designed a plan which takes into account the needs expressed by the community.

An aerial view of the concept diagram for Lakeside's River Park. Our 3-mile long project site is located between Highway 67 on the northern end and Riverford Road at the southern end along either side of the San Diego River.

Table of Contents

Our table of contents for this 200-page color design manual are below. We are sure you will see many items of interest. We have also created a 50-page mini-report, which contains only the Conceptual Design plan details (pages 59-120) in black & white.

Either book may be purchased by contacting our office at: (619) 443-4770. The full report is available for $45.00 and the mini-report for $5.00.

Preface.......................................................................	i
Acknowledgements.....................................................	iii
Abstract....................................................................	iv
Table of Contents.......................................................	v
Section 1. Introduction...............................................	1
Background and Purpose.............................................	3
Location and Study Area..............................................	4
Issues........................................................................	6
Goals and Objectives...................................................	8
Design Process............................................................	10
Section 2. Natural and Cultural Landscape.................	11
Geomorphology...........................................................	13
Sedimentation.............................................................	14
Soils..........................................................................	15
Exploitation of Mineral Resources...................................	16
Effect of Dams............................................................	17
Hydrology...................................................................	18
Climate and Precipitation..............................................	18
Historical San Diego River Flow.....................................	19
Current San Diego River Flow.......................................	20
Reservoirs..................................................................	21
Flooding.....................................................................	21
Surface Water Quality..................................................	22
Groundwater...............................................................	23
Vegetation .................................................................	26
Riparian Habitats.........................................................	28
Wildlife ......................................................................	30
Wildlife Corridors..........................................................	31
Multiple Species Conservation Program Linkages..............	31
Sensitive Biological Resources .......................................	32
Settlement History.......................................................	33
Built Environment........................................................	37
Existing Land Use .......................................................	37
Community Context.....................................................	41
Parks and Recreation ...................................................	46
Community Perspectives...............................................	48
Growth Projections .....................................................	50
Section 3. Suitability Modeling...................................	51
Value Matrix................................................................	53
Proximity Matrix...........................................................	54
Suitable Land Model.....................................................	57
Section 4. Conceptual Design.....................................	59
Concept Statement......................................................	61
River Park Concept Plan................................................	62
Concept Diagram.........................................................	64
Circulation and Trail Network.........................................	66
Typical Trail and Path Configurations..............................	68
Design Standards .......................................................	70
Water Quality and Aquifer Recharge...............................	70
Plants ........................................................................	74
Park Entrances ...........................................................	75
Trail Junctions ............................................................	77
Offshoot Trails ............................................................	78
Safety .......................................................................	78
Preservation of Views ..................................................	79
Environmental Education ..............................................	79
Heritage Elements .......................................................	80
Public Art ...................................................................	81
Parking Lots ...............................................................	82
Recycled Materials .......................................................	82
Sustainable Building Design .........................................	83
Design Language ........................................................	84
Concept Designs..........................................................	88
River Corridor .............................................................	88
Tank Hill Sports Complex .............................................	92
Riverfront Yard ...........................................................	96
Gateway Green ...........................................................	102
Hanson Activity Grounds .............................................	106
Archery Range ............................................................	112
Cactus County Park .....................................................	114
Bridges .....................................................................	117
Section 5. Design Evaluation .....................................	121
Community Core ........................................................	123
Recreation .................................................................	124
Habitat ......................................................................	125
Water .......................................................................	126
Connectivity ..............................................................	127
Visual Character .........................................................	128
Social Development ....................................................	129
Section 6. Future Management and Planning ............	131
Suggestions for Future Study .....................................	133
Recreational Facilities ..................................................	133
Lindo Lake Revitalization .............................................	134
Maine Street Pedestrian District ...................................	135
Mapleview Avenue / Highway 67 Realignment .................	136
Campgrounds ............................................................	137
Wildlife Corridor .........................................................	137
Phasing Recommendations ..........................................	138
Phase One ................................................................	138
Phase Two ................................................................	139
Phase Three ..............................................................	139
Alternative Scenarios .................................................	140
Section 7. Appendices ...............................................	141
Supplemental Hydrologic Data .....................................	143
History of Water in San Diego .....................................	143
Reservoirs ................................................................	144
Pollution Sources .......................................................	145
Pools & Riffles ............................................................	146
CalMat Reclamation Project .........................................	147
Current CalMat Site Conditions ....................................	147
Surface Mining and Reclamation Act ..............................	147
Reclamation Efforts ....................................................	148
Plant Palette ..............................................................	149
Suitability Mapping .....................................................	153
Community Input .......................................................	154
Community Workshop Data – Workshops #1 and #2 ....	154
Community Workshop Data – Workshop #3 Data .........	155
Community Survey Data .............................................	158
Student Workshop Data .............................................	162
Student Survey Data ..................................................	164
A Day in the Park .......................................................	173
Carrie and Ranger ......................................................	173
Frank and Charlie .......................................................	174
Tony ........................................................................	175
Rosie ........................................................................	176
Mr. Gnatcatcher .........................................................	178
Beyond the Classroom Walls .......................................	179
The Individual and the Experience of Place ....................	185
Reasonable Places for Reasonable People ......................	188
What is community? ..................................................	195
References ...............................................................	200
About SDRPLC ..........................................................	206
About the 606 Studio ................................................	208
Team Member Profiles ................................................	209

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Egret photo courtesy of Terry Vance

Conceptual Plan for the River Park

Table of Contents