Supervisors Advance Proposals Connected To River Valley Park

SAN DIEGO, CA — The county Board of Supervisors Wednesday voted unanimously to apply for a $20 million federal grant that would be used to help clean up the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, in partnership with the YMCA of San Diego County.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant would provide $14 million for removing accumulated trash and sediment from specific portions within the county-owned park and restore Tijuana River native habitat, according to information on the board agenda.

Six million dollars would pay for a new "resilience hub" with YMCA Camp S.U.R.F. in the town of Imperial Beach that would feature educational activities; emergency and disaster preparedness resources; year-round trail connectivity and signage; and pollution-reduction strategies, including clean water infrastructure.

Nilsa Higgins, a county Housing Authority commissioner, also voted with supervisors as part of the consent agenda.

The 1,800-acre Tijuana River Valley Regional Park is located next to Imperial Beach, and the Otay Mesa and Nestor neighborhoods within the city of San Diego.

Along with beach areas, it contains several types of ecosystems, including dunes and saltmarsh, and is home to plant and animal species.

In a news release, Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer said contamination from the Tijuana River Valley "is not only harming our oceans and communities, it's harming this regional park, which is a tremendous binational asset."

She added that it's rare to have such a vast amount of land under public ownership, "and this partnership with the YMCA could help bring millions of federal dollars to San Diego County to transform this truly unique area."

In a related action, supervisors voted 4-0 to let county officials negotiate a $500,000 contract with the San Diego Tijuana World Design Capital 2024 to develop a master plan and arch design for Gateway to the Californias, which is an environmental initiative that proposes turning the Tijuana River Valley Park into a world-class sports complex and recreation spot, with biking trails and parks.

The World Design Capital is designated every two years by the World Design Organization, which aims to promote and advance the discipline of industrial design. San Diego/Tijuana includes the first U.S. location, and first cross-border region, to receive the World Design Capital designation.

Speaking via the board clerk because of a vocal cord issue, Chairwoman Nora Vargas said the Gateway to Californias is not just a project but also investment in South County communities and a way to address long-standing inequities.

Combined with other county efforts, "this project stands to completely transform the area, its infrastructure, economic development and environmental issues," Vargas said.

Growing up in the South County region, Vargas said she remembered not having enough recreation spaces, and has heard the same concern from parents Wednesday.

Lawson-Remer abstained from voting, saying it wasn't clear to her that WDC met the criteria for a single-source contract, including for community engagement.

Lawson-Remer added she didn't oppose the "core vision" of the project.

During public comment, political activist Ellen Nash spoke in favor of the county working with WDC and mentioned how she currently can't visit local beaches due to pollution hazards.

"It's not about us, it's about our future and our children," said Nash, chairwoman of the San Diego chapter of the Black American Political Association of California. "Let's stand up and support that project."

Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre said that rather than awarding a contract, the $500,000 would be better used for remediation efforts, such as supplying more desperately needed air filters.

Although appreciated, the River Valley project "is somewhat putting the cart before the horse," due to the serious pollution issues, Aguirre said.

— City News Service