Ward Canyon Dog Park

04/03/2025

So excited that the Community Garden in Ward Canyon is coming to fruition!

Community Garden Volunteer Event This Saturday!!

Come help build the new community garden at the south end of Ward Canyon Park!

The garden is at the end of 40th street where it dead ends past the freeway entrance to I-15. In the now closed and abandoned Large Dog area...next to the smaller dog area.

Saturday April 5th from 8 AM to Noon

What to Bring
→ Gloves and boots
→ Hoes, shovels, rakes
→ Good cheer!

01/27/2025

Call for Candidates
The Normal Heights Community Planning Group’s annual board election is coming up in March.
We are seeking candidates to run for seats on the board.
Do you want to join the conversation about housing, transportation, and land use in the neighborhood and participate in making recommendations to the city? Run for the board!
Email [email protected] as soon as possible for more information and a candidate application. All candidates for the election must be declared by February 4th.
To run for a seat on the board, you must –
• Be at least 18 years old, and
• Either rent a home, own a home, own property, or own a business located in the Normal Heights Community Planning Area.
The Normal Heights Community Planning Area is bordered by -
• El Cajon Boulevard on the south,
• The 805 Freeway on the west,
• The 15 Freeway on the east, and
• The canyon slopes overlooking Mission Valley on the north.
For more information, please see https://normalheightscpg.org/ or email [email protected].
(sent via mail service donated by Normal Heights for Smart Growth)

The Community Planning Group is the official voice of the neighborhood to the San Diego City Council. If you have thoughts ideas for how your neighborhood could be improved, we'd love to hear from you.

01/11/2025

Call for Artists: Ward Canyon Public Art
Art Budget: Approximately $110,000
Application Deadline: February 11, 2025, 4:00 PM PST

The City of San Diego is seeking applications from interested qualified artists to provide public art services for the Ward Canyon Park Public Art Project. An artist or artist team is sought to design, fabricate and transport permanent, site-specific artwork for the park improvements and consult during installation of artwork at the site by the City.

With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and major attractions, San Diego is known worldwide as one of the best tourist destinations and a great place for residents to relax year round.

08/18/2024

Come see me try my hand at StandUp! I promise you'll laugh. This coming Saturday, August 24 at Point Loma Playhouse. Only $15.

07/26/2024

Want to talk to our council member's office about the permanent plan for the dog park?

A staff member from Sean Elo-Rivera’s office will meet with concerned dog owners next Tuesday, July 30 at 3 pm at the small dusty dog park off of 40th at Ward Canyon Park.

The agenda includes informing her of our concerns regarding unexpected change to the permanent plan for the off leash area.

Please be there to express your support for the largest possible area for our pooches.

And pass the word to your neighbors in person and on Nextdoor.

05/30/2024

As mentioned earlier, plans for the permanent off leash area are being "finalized". Your help is needed to encourage the city and CalTrans to agree on releasing their section of 40th street so that we get all the square footage we have been expecting. Come to the CRG meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month.

05/07/2024

Normal Heights Community Planning Group Monthly Meeting
TONIGHT! Tuesday, May 7, 2024, 6:00 PM until approx. 8:30 PM
Normal Heights Community Center
4649 Hawley Avenue
also via Zoom at https://normalheightscpg.org/meet-now/

6:00 Call to order - AUDIO, CHAT, AND VIDEO WILL BE RECORDED
1. Opening “reflection”
2. Introductions of Board members. Virtual attendees are encouraged to enter their name for a record of their attendance in “Chat” or, if participating by audio only, to introduce themselves verbally. A reminder that other Chat entries will not be monitored by the Chair and are not considered official communications, even if to or from Board members.
3. Agenda Setting/modifications (Note: items may be addressed out of listed order and time)
4. Approval of meeting minutes for April as sent via email – Chair
5. Treasurer’s Report – Treasurer/ Frances Prichett
6:15 Non-Agenda Public Comment
6. Non-Agenda Public Comment regarding NH land use & related NH community issues (2min pp).
7. Digital Communications Monitoring from, nextdoor, Facebook, Email, etc.
6:30 Action/Decision Items (Board member roll call may be performed for recording votes)
8. PRJ- 1113452 Benton Place presented by Luis Espinoza
9. General Plan Refresh Blueprint SD presented by Chair
10. Overview of Agenda and Minutes Cycle - Chair
11. Goals for new cycle – Greg Stone
12. Review of committees and membership
8:00 Reports/Updates
13. City, County, and State government agency representatives, if present.
• District 9 Councilmember Elo-Rivera – Sara Al-Agha
• Mayor’s Office - Lucero Maganda
• County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe (or representative)
• State Senator Atkins –Andi McNew
• Assembly Member Ward – Christopher Gris
• District 51 U.S. Congressmember Sara Jacobs (or representative)
14. Chair Report
• Ad hoc subcommittee to submit to the County Grand Jury regarding SD Planning Dept.
15. Community Group updates when present
• Adams Avenue Business Association – Scott Kessler
• El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association – Gary Weber
• NH Community Association and NH Urban Arts – Greg Stone/Norma Stafford
• Adams “Community Recreation Advisory Group” – Nancy Lawler
• NH for Smart Growth – Paul Coogan
8:15 Standing Committees
16. Joint Mid-City Communities Plan Update Committee – Emilie Colwell
17. Historical Property Review Report – Dan Soderberg
8:30 Advisory Committees
18. Nominating Committee - Greg Stone, Jim Baross
19. Utility Undergrounding & Street Lighting MAD – Emilie Colwell & Francis Prichett
20. Community Garden - Paul Coogan
21. Tree Replacements - Greg Stone, Emilie Colwell, Gerald Schoelen
22. Traffic Issue Taskforce (Report on Vision Zero) – Allan Harjala
8:45 Adjournment
Paul Coogan
Chair, NHCPG

Join Meeting Now How to Join  To join the meeting click the button at the top of this page or using this URL: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6263904190 If you join the meeting before the scheduled time you will be admitted into a “waiting room”. The Zoom Host will admit you from there when the meeti...

04/30/2024

Just a quick note to let you know that the April monthly Community Recreation Group meetings on the 30th has been cancelled. There has been no additional information posted about the issues concerning the permanent plan for the Off-Leash area, so the Chair cancelled the meeting.

We will update you with information on the May meeting!

And if anyone is interested in helping secure the Community Garden sooner than later in the now closed Large Dog area, please attend the May 7 meeting of the Normal Heights Community Planning Group :: NHCPG.

03/09/2024

Greetings Dog Park friends. Just letting you know that the new butterfly mosaic is going to be installed this coming week at the Rec Center at 35th and Adams.

Here is the information from Kim Emerson - the designer/artist.

"We are very happy to announce that we will be installing the “Kaleidoscope of Butterflies” mosaic mural next Thursday, March 14th! The mosaic butterflies and are ready to fly out our studio doors, and the contractor, Fortress Fence & Landscape, Inc., will be installing all 11 panels starting early AM. I will be on site at the Adams Recreation Center and Community Park the 2 days afterwards with Dennis to finish the last details. Please stop by and say hello and take pictures and/or videos.

And, it just so happens that March 14th is “National Learn About Butterflies Day”. We did not originally plan to install this particular day, but we believe that it is meant to be!

The dedication/unveiling day of the mural will be announced soon. Thank you to ALL for your kindness and support of this project. We look forward to seeing you at the Adams Rec Center soon.

Please feel free to pass this information along to anyone who you think would be interested.

We hope and trust that the color, beauty, and influence of this permanent mosaic art installation will invite and inspire positive energy and activities in our little community park, and that it will help create a sense of pride and hope for our neighborhood!"

01/24/2024

Plans are underway for a dedication of the butterfly mural at the Rec Center (Adams and 35th) on March 29 during the Spring Fling. More details as we get them. Kim Emerson reported that they are finishing up the last panel and hope to install by early March!