New Pocket Park
The High Trail in Lakeside is immensely popular. Prior to COVID, the trail served over 30,000 people a year. When we purchased the land in 2003, we purchased a little stub at the base of the old Palm Row Right of Way. We always knew it had the potential to be something special.
After years of considering the highest and best use for the site, we developed the idea of creating a small pocket park, with funding from our great partners: The San Diego River Conservancy, Marathon Construction Corporation, Lakeside Land Company, and Hamann Companies.
The Pocket Park was opened to the public this year, on a quarter-acre parcel overlooking the river and the trail. It has 4 cement picnic tables with canopies for shade. It is a place where trail users from Santee or from Channel Road can find a shady rest stop. Folks from River Run East can access the trail for walks, and there is a Little Free Library for lunchtime readers. We consider it a win for everyone.
With grant funding from the San Diego River Conservancy, in 2022 we broke ground on the new San Diego River Science Field Station. This aerial shows the portable classrooms which will be placed on a foundation, connected to utilities and hopefully open for business in 2024.
Who are the partners with this project?
We are working with Lakeside School District, Cajon Valley School District and Santee School District.
Why?
Because each of these school districts has a deep commitment to science and to STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and each understands the best way to teach science is in a child's own 'backyard' filled with water, mud, bugs, and bunnies. This has been a recipe for inspiring curiosity, deep questions about how the natural world works, and the creation of hypotheses since children have been exploring the natural world.
The Field Station!
